93% Approval President Bush on State of War. PART 1 #reply-16492142
93% Approval President Bush on State of War. PART 2
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 Qaeda organization is moving around
Afghanistan. They think they might find safe haven? Not if we think
they're there. And we 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.
This is an interesting case in Afghanistan, because 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 Qaeda organization.
It's no longer a safe haven, that's for sure, because of our military
activity.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you have tried very had to assure Americans
that the country is safe and yet your own vice president has spent of
this week in a secure location. Can you explain why that is and also
how long that will last?
BUSH: 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 some times 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.
QUESTION: 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?
BUSH: 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 the--there are nations in the world that have--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, you know,
some--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 appreciated diplomatic talk, but I'm more interested in action
and results.
I am absolutely determined--absolutely determined to root 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
root terrorism out where it exists.
And we're going to give plenty of nations a chance to do so.
QUESTION: After 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?
BUSH: 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 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 are 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 11,
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 to heighten that
sense of awareness.
QUESTION: 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?
BUSH: Well, I think it's--first let me reiterate, my focus is bringing
Al Qaeda 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 $330 million of aid to Afghan--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 that we've got 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 work for a stable Afghanistan so that her
neighbors don't fear terrorist activity again coming out that country.
Third, it'd be helpful, of course, to eradicate narcotrafficking out
of Afghanistan as well.
I believe that the United Nations 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 nation-building--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.
QUESTION: Mr. President, I'm sure many Americans are wondering where
all of 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
10?
BUSH: 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 that they'll
maybe never see in their lives.
So America is sacrifice. I think the interesting thing that has
happened, and this is so sad an incident, but there are some positive
things 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: How do I
respond to...
(LAUGHTER)
It's an old trick. How do I...
(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's such misunderstanding of what our country is
about that people would hate us. 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.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you have spoken with great pride of this
international coalition. I want to ask you, before the events of
September 11 one of the big questions you faced this fall was would
you violate the Anti-Ballistic 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 that there
have--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?
BUSH: Let me start with the latter part. I was heartened by the
Organization of Islamic Conferences' statement of support for our war
against terror. I think 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 will accept any help that a
government's 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 are 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 11.
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 am more than anxious to continue making my case to them, and we
will do what's right in regards...
(CROSSTALK)
QUESTION: ... does not agree, would you withdraw this year?
BUSH: Excuse me. I'm having trouble hearing.
QUESTION: If he does not agree with you, would you withdraw from the
ABM Treaty this year?
BUSH: 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.
QUESTION: You talk about the general threat toward Americans. 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?
BUSH: You know, if you find a person that you've never seen before
getting in a cropduster that doesn't belong to you, report it.
(LAUGHTER)
If you see suspicious people lurking around petrochemical plants,
report it to law enforcement. I mean, people need to be logical.
And 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...
(CROSSTALK)
BUSH: 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 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, D.C.
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 a 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.
washingtonpost.com
tom watson tosiwmee |
