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Old 04-14-2004, 01:51 AM   #1
Timber Loftis
40th Level Warrior
 

Join Date: July 11, 2002
Location: Chicago, IL
Posts: 11,916
All in all I think he did a good job communicating his stance. Since no, and I mean NO, news source has reported on the speech very well, I'm posting all of it.

One Criticism is he did not answer the question of "did Bush fail" very well. Actually, I think this is poor journalism. He did answer it, several times, though his answers came mostly in later questions when he referenced the earlier questions. In the end, he's not articulating what he's trying to say very well. I think the point is: he has looked at both 9/11 and Iraq and tried to determine what he would do differently, and given the state of knowledge at the time, he can't find anything he would have changed.

He did note his frustration at not finding the weapons in Iraq, and stated that what happened to the (supposedly present) weapons will hopefully be revealed.

I do note that we are not giving him credit for one thing: the various commissions and studies to determine what went wrong, how we could have acted differently, what happened to Iraq's weapons, etc. Take the 9/11 commission, for instance. It's a bold move, because it puts his presidency clearly in the gunsights, but he wants to determine how to fix the system, for the US and for the next President. He praised their work, I note, and he also hoped it would determine what could have been done differently.

As with the issue of how to integrate intelligence operations, he is open to suggestions, with an open mind, and has not made a determination yet as to how to proceed.

Anyway, I ramble. Here's the transcript from NYTimes.com:
__________________________________________________ ___________

April 14, 2004
Transcript of Bush's Remarks on Iraq: 'We Will Finish the Work of the Fallen'

ollowing is a transcript of President Bush's news conference Tuesday night, as recorded by The New York Times.

President Bush

Before I take your questions, let me speak with the American people about the situation in Iraq.

This has been tough weeks in that country. Coalition forces have encountered serious violence in some areas of Iraq. Our military commanders report that this violence is being instigated by three groups. Some remnants of Saddam Hussein's regime along with Islamic militants have attacked coalition forces in the city of Falluja. Terrorists from other countries have infiltrated Iraq to incite and organize attacks.

In the south of Iraq, coalition forces face riots and attacks that are being incited by a radical cleric named al-Sadr. He has assembled some of his supporters into an illegal militia and publicly supported the terrorists groups Hamas and Hezbollah. Al-Sadr's methods of violence and intimidation are widely repudiated by other Iraqi Shia. He's been indicted by Iraqi authorities for the murder of a prominent Shia cleric. Although these instigations of violence come from different factions, they share common goals. They want to run us out of Iraq and destroy the democratic hopes of the Iraqi people.

The violence we have seen is a power grab by these extreme and ruthless elements. It's not a civil war. It's not a popular uprising. Most of Iraq is relatively stable. Most Iraqis, by far, reject violence and oppose dictatorship. In forums where Iraqis have met to discuss their political future and in all the proceedings of the Iraqi Governing Council, Iraqis have expressed clear commitments. They want strong protections for individual rights, they want their independence and they want their freedom.

America's commitment to freedom in Iraq is consistent with our ideals and required by our interests. Iraq will either be a peaceful democratic country or it will again be a source of violence, a haven for terror and a threat to America and to the world.

By helping to secure a free Iraq, Americans serving in that country are protecting their fellow citizens. Our nation is grateful to them all and to their families that face hardship and long separation. This weekend at a Fort Hood hospital, I presented a Purple Heart to some of our wounded, had the honor of thanking them on behalf of all Americans. Other men and women have paid an even greater cost. Our nation honors the memory of those who have been killed, and we pray that their families will find God's comfort in the midst of their grief. As I've said to those who have lost loved ones: We will finish the work of the fallen.

America's armed forces are performing brilliantly, with all the skill and honor we expect of them. We're constantly reviewing their needs. Troop strength now and in the future is determined by the situation on the ground. If additional forces are needed, I will send them. If additional resources are needed, we will provide them.

The people of our country are united behind our men and women in uniform. And this government will do all that is necessary to assure the success of their historic mission. One central commitment of that mission is the transfer of a sovereignty back to the Iraqi people. We have set a deadline of June 30. It is important that we meet that deadline. As a proud and independent people, Iraqis do not support an indefinite occupation, and neither does America. We're not an imperial power, as nations such as Japan and Germany can attest. We're a liberating power, as nations in Europe and Asia can attest as well.

America's objective in Iraq is limited and it is firm. We seek an independent, free and secure Iraq. Were the coalition to step back from the June 30 pledge, many Iraqis would question our intentions and feel their hopes betrayed. And those in Iraq who trade in hatred and conspiracy theories would find a larger audience and gain a stronger hand. We will not step back from our pledge. On June 30, Iraqi sovereignty will be placed in Iraqi hands. Sovereignty involves more than a date and a ceremony. It requires Iraqis to assume responsibility for their own future.

Iraqi authorities are now confronting the security challenge of the last several weeks. In Falluja, coalition forces have suspended offensive operations, allowing members of the Iraqi Governing Council and local leaders to work on the restoration of central authority in that city. These leaders are communicating with the insurgents to ensure an orderly turnover of that city to Iraqi forces so that the resumption of military action does not become necessary. They are also insisting that those who killed and mutilated four American contract workers be handed over for trial and punishment.

In addition, members of the Governing Council are seeking to resolve the situation in the south. Al-Sadr must answer the charges against him and disband his illegal militia.

Our coalition is standing with responsible Iraqi leaders as they establish growing authority in their country. The transition to sovereignty requires that we demonstrate confidence in Iraqis. And we have that confidence. Many Iraqi leaders are showing great personal courage. And their example will bring out the same quality in others.

The transition to sovereignty also requires an atmosphere of security. And our coalition is working to provide that security. We will continue taking the greatest care to prevent harm to innocent civilians. Yet we will not permit the spread of chaos and violence. I have directed our military commanders to make every preparation to use decisive force if necessary to maintain order and to protect our troops.

The nation of Iraq is moving toward self-rule. And Iraqis and Americans will see evidence in the months to come. On June 30 when the flag of free Iraq is raised, Iraqi officials will assume responsibility for the ministries of government. On that day the transitional administrative law, including a bill of rights that is unprecedented in the Arab world, will take full effect. The United States and all the nations of our coalition will establish normal diplomatic relations with the Iraqi government. An American embassy will open and an American ambassador will be posted.

According to the schedule already approved by the Governing Council, Iraq will hold elections for a national assembly no later than next January. That assembly will draft a new permanent constitution, which will be presented to the Iraqi people in a national referendum held in October of next year. Iraqis will then elect a permanent government by Dec. 15, 2005, an event that will mark the completion of Iraq's transition from dictatorship to freedom.

Other nations and international institutions are stepping up to their responsibilities in building a free and secure Iraq. We're working closely with the United Nations envoy Lakhdar Brahimi and with Iraqis to determine the exact form of the government that will receive sovereignty on June 30. The United Nations elections assistance team headed by Carina Pirelli is in Iraq developing plans for next January's election. NATO is providing support for the Polish-led multinational division in Iraq. And 17 of NATO's 26 members are contributing forces to maintain security. Secretary of State Powell and Secretary of State Rumsfeld and a number of NATO defense and foreign ministers are exploring a more formal role for NATO such as turning the Polish-led division into a NATO operation and giving NATO specific responsibilities for border control.

Iraqis' neighbors also have responsibilities to make their region more stable. So I'm sending Deputy Secretary of State Armitage to the Middle East to discuss with these nations our common interest in a free and independent Iraq and how they can help achieve this goal.

As we made clear all along, our commitment to the success and security of Iraq will not end on June 30. On July 1 and beyond, our reconstruction assistance will continue and our military commitment will continue. Having helped Iraqis establish a new government, coalition military forces will help Iraqis to protect their government from external aggression and internal subversion.

The success of free government in Iraq is vital for many reasons. A free Iraq is vital because 25 million Iraqis have as much right to live in freedom as we do. A free Iraq will stand as an example to reformers across the Middle East. A free Iraq will show that America is on the side of Muslims who wish to live in peace, as we've already shown in Kuwait and Kosovo, Bosnia and Afghanistan. A free Iraq will confirm to a watching world that America's word, once given, can be relied upon even in the toughest times.

Above all, the defeat of violence and terror in Iraq is vital to the defeat of violence and terror elsewhere, and vital, therefore, to the safety of the American people.

Now is the time and Iraq is the place in which the enemies of the civilized world are testing the will of the civilized world. We must not waver. The violence we are seeing in Iraq is familiar. The terrorist who takes hostages or plants a roadside bomb near Baghdad is serving the same ideology of murder that kills innocent people on trains in Madrid and murders children on buses in Jerusalem and blows up a nightclub in Bali and cuts the throat of a young reporter for being a Jew. We've seen the same ideology of murder in the killing of 241 marines in Beirut, the first attack on the World Trade Center, in the destruction of two embassies in Africa, in the attack on the U.S.S. Cole and in the merciless horror inflicted upon thousands of innocent men and women and children on Sept. 11, 2001.

None of these acts is the work of a religion. All are the work of a fanatical political ideology. The servants of this ideology seek tyranny in the Middle East and beyond. They seek to oppress and persecute women. They seek the death of Jews and Christians and every Muslim who desires peace over theocratic terror. They seek to intimidate America into panic and retreat, and to set free nations against each other. And they seek weapons of mass destruction to blackmail and murder on a massive scale.

Over the last several decades, we've seen that any concession or retreat on our part will only embolden this enemy and invite more bloodshed. And the enemy has seen over the last 31 months that we will no longer live in denial or seek to appease them. For the first time, the civilized world has provided a concerted response to the ideology of terror, a series of powerful, effective blows. The terrorists have lost the shelter of the Taliban and the training camps in Afghanistan. They've lost safe havens in Pakistan. They lost an ally in Baghdad, and Libya has turned its back on terror. They've lost many leaders in an unrelenting international manhunt. And perhaps most frightening to these men and their movement, the terrorists are seeing the advance of freedom and reform in the greater Middle East.

A desperate enemy is also a dangerous enemy, and our work may become more difficult before it is finished. No one can predict all the hazards that lie ahead or the costs they will bring.

Yet in this conflict there is no safe alternative to resolute action. The consequences of failure in Iraq would be unthinkable. Every friend of America in Iraq would be betrayed to prison and murder as a new tyranny arose. Every enemy of America in the world would celebrate, proclaiming our weakness and decadence, and using that victory to recruit a new generation of killers.

We will succeed in Iraq. We're carrying out a decision that has already been made and will not change. Iraq will be a free, independent country. And America and the Middle East will be safer because of it. Our coalition has the means and the will to prevail. We serve the cause of liberty and that is always and everywhere a cause worth serving.

Questions and Answers

Q. Mr. President, April is turning into the deadliest month in Iraq since the fall of Baghdad, and some people are comparing Iraq to Vietnam and talking about a quagmire. Polls show that support for your policy is declining and that fewer than half Americans now support it. What does that say to you and how do you answer the Vietnam comparison?

A. Yeah, I think the analogy is false. I also happen to think that analogy is — sends the wrong message to our troops and sends the wrong message to the enemy.

Look, this is hard work. It's hard to advance freedom in a country that has been strangled by tyranny. And yet, we must stay the course because the end result is in our nation's interest. A secure and free Iraq is an historic opportunity to change the world and make America more secure. A free Iraq in the midst of the Middle East will have incredible change.

It's hard. Freedom is not easy to achieve. I mean, it's — we had a little trouble in our country achieving freedom. And we've been there a year. Terry, I know that seems like a long time. It seems like a long time to the loved ones whose troops have been overseas. But when you think about where the country has come from, it's a relatively short period of time. And we're making progress.

There's no question it's been a tough series of weeks for the American people. It's been really tough for the families. I understand that. It's been tough on this administration. But we're doing the right thing.

And as to whether or not I make decisions based upon polls, I don't. I just don't make decisions that way. I fully understand the consequences of what we're doing. We're changing the world. And the world will be better off. And America will be more secure as a result of the actions we're taking.

Q. What's your best prediction on how long U.S. troops will have to be in Iraq. It sounds like you will have to add some troops. Is that a fair assessment?

A. Well, first of all, that's up to General Abizaid. And he's clearly indicating that he may want more troops. It's coming up through the chain of command. And if that's what he wants, that's what he gets.

Generally, we've had about 115,000 troops in Iraq. There's 135,000 now as a result of the changeover from one division to the next. If he wants to keep troops there to help, I'm more than willing to say, Yes, General Abizaid.

I talk to General Abizaid quite frequently. I'm constantly asking him does he have what he needs. Whether it be in troop strength or in equipment. He and General Sanchez talk all the time. And if he makes the recommendation, he'll get it.

In terms of how long we'll be there, as long as necessary, and not one day more. The Iraqi people need us there to help with security. They need us there to fight off these, you know, violent few who are doing everything they can to resist the advance of freedom. And I mentioned who they are. And as I mentioned in my opening remarks, our commanders on the ground have got the authorities necessary to deal with violence and will — will in firm fashion.

And that's what by far the vast majority of the Iraqis wants. They want security so they can advance toward a free society. Once we transfer sovereignty we'll enter into a security agreement with the government to which we pass sovereignty, the entity to which we pass sovereignty. And we'll need to be there for a while.

We'll also need to continue training the Iraqi troops. I was disappointed in the performance of some of the troops. Some of the units performed brilliantly. Some of them didn't. And we need to find out why. If they're lacking in equipment, we'll get them equipment. If there needs to be more intense training, we'll get more intense training. But eventually Iraq security is going to be handled by the Iraqi people themselves.

Q. Mr. President, before the war you and members of your administration made several claims about Iraq. That U.S. troops would be greeted as liberators with sweets and flowers. That Iraqi oil revenue would pay for most of the reconstruction. And that Iraq not only had weapons of mass destruction, but as Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld said, we know where they are. How do you explain to Americans how you got that so wrong? And how do you answer your opponents who say that you took this nation to war on the basis of what have turned out to be a series of false premises?

A. Well, let me step back and review my thinking prior to going into Iraq. First, the lesson of Sept. 11 is when this nation sees a threat, a gathering threat, we've got to deal with it. We can no longer hope that oceans protect us from harm. Every threat we must take seriously.

Saddam Hussein was a threat. He was a threat because he had used weapons of mass destruction on his own people. He was a threat because he coddled terrorists. He was a threat because he funded suiciders. He was a threat to the region. He was a threat to the United States. That's the assessment that I made from the intelligence, the assessment that Congress made from the intelligence. That's the exact same assessment that the United Nations Security Council made with the intelligence.

I went to the U.N. as you might recall and said, Either you take care of him or we will. Anytime an American president says, If you don't, we will, we better be prepared to. And I was prepared to. I thought it was important for the United Nations Security Council that when it says something, it means something for the sake of security in the world. See, the war on terror had changed the calculations. We needed to work with people. People needed to come together — and therefore, empty words would embolden the actions of those who are willing to kill indiscriminately. The United Nations passed a Security Council resolution unanimously that said, Disarm or face serious consequences. And he refused to disarm.

I thought it was very interesting that Charlie Duelfer who just came back — he's the head of the Iraqi Survey Group — reported some interesting findings from his recent tour there. And one of the things was he was amazed at how deceptive the Iraqis had been toward Unmovic and Unscom, deceptive at hiding things. We knew they were hiding things. A country that hides something is a country that is afraid of getting caught. And that was part of our calculation. Charlie confirmed that. He also confirmed that Saddam had a — the ability to produce biological and chemical weapons. In other words, he was a danger. He had long-range missiles that were undeclared to the United Nations. He was a danger. And so we dealt with him.

What else, part of the question? Oh, oil revenues. Well, the oil revenues are, they're bigger than we thought they would be at this point in time. I mean one year after the liberation of Iraq, the revenues of the oil stream is pretty darn significant. One of the things I was concerned about prior to going into Iraq was that the oil fields would be destroyed. But they weren't. They're now up and running. And that money is, it will benefit the Iraqi people. It's their oil. And they'll use it to reconstruct the country.

Finally, the attitude of the Iraqis toward the American people: it's an interesting question. They're really pleased we got rid of Saddam Hussein. And you can understand why. This is a guy who's a torturer, a killer, a maimer. There's mass graves. I mean he was a horrible individual that really shocked the country in many ways, shocked it into kind of a fear of making decisions toward liberty. That's what we've seen recently. Some citizens are fearful of stepping up. And they were happy — they're not happy they're occupied. I wouldn't be happy if I were occupied either.

They do want us there to help with security. And that's why this transfer of sovereignty is an important signal to send. And it's why it's also important for them to hear we will stand with them until they become a free country.

Q. To move to the 9/11 commission, you yourself have acknowledged that Osama bin Laden was not a central focus of the administration in the months before Sept. 11. "I was not on point," you told the journalist Bob Woodward. "I didn't feel that sense of urgency." Two and a half years later, do you feel any sense of personal responsibility for Sept. 11?

A. Let me put that quote to Woodward in context. He had asked me if I was, something about killing bin Laden. That's what the question was. And I said compared to how I felt at the time after the attack I didn't have that — and I also went on to say my blood wasn't boiling, I think is what the quote said. I didn't see, I mean I didn't have that great sense of outrage that I felt on Sept. 11. I was, on that day I was angry and sad. Angry that Al Qaeda had, at the time thought Al Qaeda, found out shortly thereafter it was Al Qaeda, had unleashed this attack. Sad for those who lost their life.

Your question, do I feel?

Q. Do you feel a sense of personal responsibility for Sept. 11?

A. I feel incredibly grieved when I meet with family members. And I do quite frequently. I grieve for, you know, the incredible loss of life that they feel, the emptiness they feel.

There are some things I wish we had done when I look back. I mean, hindsight is easy. It's easy for a president to stand up and say now that I know what happened would have been nice if there were certain things in place. For example, a Homeland Security Department. And why I say that, because it's — that provides the ability for our agencies to coordinate better and to work together better than it was before. I think the hearings will show that the Patriot Act is an important change in the law that will allow the F.B.I. and the C.I.A. to better share information together. We were kind of stovepiped, I guess is a way to describe it. There was kind of departments that at times didn't communicate because of law in the F.B.I.'s case.

And the other thing I look back on and realize is that we weren't on a war footing. The country was not on a war footing, and yet the enemy was at war with us. And it didn't take me long to put us on a war footing. And we've been on a war ever since.

The lessons of 9/11 that I'm — one lesson was, we must deal with gathering threats. And that's part of the reason I dealt with Iraq the way I did. The other lesson is that this country must go on the offense and stay on the offense. In order to secure the country, we must do everything in our power to find these killers and bring them to justice before they hurt us again. I'm afraid they want to hurt us again. They're still there. They can be right one time. We got to be right 100 percent of the time in order to protect the country. It's a mighty task. But our government has changed since the 9/11 attacks. We're better equipped to respond. We're better at sharing intelligence. But we've still got a lot of work to do.

Q. I'd like to follow up on a couple of these questions that have been asked. One of the biggest criticisms of you is that whether it's W.M.D. in Iraq, postwar planning in Iraq or even the question of whether this administration did enough to ward off 9/11, you never admit a mistake. Is that a fair criticism? And do you believe that there were any errors in judgment that you made related to any of those topics I brought up?

A. Well, I think, as I mentioned, you know, it's the country wasn't on war footing. And yet we're at war. And that's just a reality. I mean that was the situation that existed prior to 9/11. Because the truth of the matter is, most of the country never felt that we'd be vulnerable to an attack such as the one that Osama bin Laden unleashed on us. We knew he had designs on us. We knew he hated us. But there was nobody in our government at least — and I don't think the prior government — could envision flying airplanes into buildings on such a massive scale.

The people know where I stand. I mean in terms of Iraq, I was very clear about what I believed. And, of course, I want to know why we haven't found a weapon yet. But I still know Saddam Hussein was a threat. And the world is better off without Saddam Hussein. I don't think anybody can, maybe people can argue that. I know the Iraqi people don't believe that they're better off with Saddam Hussein, would be better off with Saddam Hussein in power. I also know that there's an historic opportunity here to change the world. And it's very important for the loved ones of our troops to understand that the mission is: an important vital mission for the security of America and for the ability to change the world for the better.

Q. You've talked — I'd like to ask you about the Aug. 6 P.D.B.

A. Sure.

Q. You mentioned it at Fort Hood on Sunday. You pointed out that it did not warn of a hijacking of airplanes to crash into buildings, but that it warned of hijackings to obviously take hostages and to secure the release of extremists being held by the U.S. Did that trigger some specific actions on your part and the administration since it dealt with potentially hundreds of lives and a blackmail attempt on the United States government?

A. I asked for the briefing. And the reason I did is because there had been a lot of threat intelligence from overseas. And part of it had to do with the Genoa G8 conference that I was going to attend. And I asked at that point in time, let's make sure we are paying attention here at home as well. And that's what triggered the report.

The report itself, I've characterized it as mainly history. And I think when you look at it you'll see that it was talking about a '97 and '98 and '99. It was also an indication as you mentioned that that bin Laden might want to hijack an airplane, but as you said, not to fly into a building but perhaps to release a person in jail. In other words, serving as a blackmail. And of course that concerns me. All those reports concern me.

As a matter of fact, I was dealing with terrorism a lot as the president when George Tenet came in to brief me. I mean that's where I got my information. I changed the way, the relationship, between the president and the C.I.A. director. And I wanted Tenet in the Oval Office all the time. And we had briefings about terrorist threats. This was a summary.

Now in the, what's called the P.D.B. there was a warning about bin Laden's desires on America. Frankly, I didn't think that was anything new. I mean major newspapers had talked about bin Laden's desires on hurting America. What was interesting in there was that there was a report that the F.B.I. was conducting field investigations. And that was good news that they were doing their job.

The way my administration worked was that I met with Tenet all the time. I obviously met with my principals a lot. We talked about threats that emerged. We had a counterterrorism group meeting on a regular basis to analyze the threats that came in. Had there been a threat that required action by anybody in the government, I would have dealt with it. In other words, had they come up and said this is where we see something happening, you can rest assured that the people of this government would have responded and responded in a forceful way.

I mean one of the things about Elizabeth's question was I stepped back and I've asked myself a lot, Is there anything we could have done to stop the attacks? Of course, I've asked that question as have many people of my government. Nobody wants this to happen to America. And the answer is that had I had any inkling whatsoever that the people were going to fly airplanes into buildings we would have moved heaven and earth to save the country. Just like we're working hard to prevent a further attack.

Q. You mentioned the P.D.B. and the assurance you got that the F.B.I. was working on terrorism investigations here. The number they had used was 70. But we learned today in the Sept. 11 hearings that the acting director of the F.B.I. at the time now says the F.B.I. tells him that number was wrong. That he doesn't even know how it got into your P.D.B. And two of the commissioners strongly suggest the number was exaggerated. Have you learned anything else about that report since that time? And do you now believe you were falsely comforted by the F.B.I.?

A. No, I heard about that today obviously. And my response to that was I expect to get valid information. As the ultimate decision maker for this country I expect information that comes to my desk to be real and valid. And I presume the 9/11 commission will find out, will follow up on his suggestions and his recollection and garner the truth. That is an important part of the 9/11 commission's job is to analyze what went on and what could have perhaps been done differently so that we can better secure America for the future. But, of course, I expect to get valid information. I can't make good decisions unless I get valid information.

Q. Has the F.B.I. come back to you, sir?

A. No, I haven't talked to anybody today yet. I'll — I will, though. We'll find out.

Q. Two weeks ago, a former counterterrorism official at the N.S.C., Richard Clarke, offered an unequivocal apology to the American people for failing them prior to 9/11. Do you believe the American people deserve a similar apology from you, and would you be prepared to give them one?

A. Hmmm. Look, I can understand why people in my administration are anguished over the fact that people lost their life. I feel the same way. I mean I'm sick when I think about the death that took place on that day. And as I mentioned, I met with a lot of family members and I do the best to console them about the loss of their loved one. As I mentioned, I oftentimes think about what I could have done differently. I can assure the American people that had we had any inkling that this was going to happen, we would have done everything in our power to stop the attack.

Here's what I feel about that: the person responsible for the attacks was Osama bin Laden. That's who's responsible for killing Americans. And that's why we will stay on the offense until we bring people to justice.

Q. You mentioned that 17 of the 26 NATO members are providing some help on the ground in Iraq — but if you look at the numbers — 135,000 U.S. troops, 10,000 or 12,000 British troops, then the next largest, perhaps even the second-largest contingent of guns on the ground, are private contractors, literally hired guns. Your critics, including your Democratic opponent, say that's proof to them your coalition is window dressing. How would you answer those critics? And can you assure the American people that post-sovereignty, when the hand-over takes place, that there will be more burden-sharing by allies in terms of security forces?

A. Yeah. My response is, I don't think people ought to demean the contributions of our friends and to Iraq. People are sacrificing their lives in Iraq from different countries. We ought to honor that and we ought to welcome that. I'm proud of the coalition that is there. This is — these are people that have — the leaders have made the decision to put peoples in harm way — people in harm's way for the good of the world. And we appreciate that sacrifice in America. We appreciate that commitment.

I think that one of the things you're saying is more involvement by the United Nations in terms of the political process. That's helpful. I'd like to get another U.N. Security Council resolution out that will help other nations to decide to participate.

One of the things I've found is that in calling around, particularly during this week — I've spoke to Prime Minister Berlusconi and President Kwasniewski — there is a resolve by these leaders that is a heartening resolve. Tony Blair's the same way. He understands, like I understand, that we cannot yield at this point in time, that we must remain steadfast and strong, that it's the intentions of the enemy to shake our will. That's what they want to do. They want us to leave. And we're not going to leave. We're going to do the job.

And a free Iraq is going to be a major blow for terrorism. It'll change the world. A free Iraq in the midst of the Middle East is vital to future peace and security.

Maybe I can best put it this way, why I feel so strongly about this historic moment. I was having dinner with Prime Minister Koizumi, and we were talking about North Korea, about how we can work together to deal with the threat. The North Korea leader is a threat. And here are two friends now discussing how — what strategy to employ to prevent him from further developing and deploying a nuclear weapon. And it dawned on me that had we blown the peace in World War II, that perhaps this conversation would not have been taking place. It also dawned on me then that when we get it right in Iraq, at some point in time an American president will be sitting down with the duly elected Iraqi leader talking about how to bring security to what has been a troubled part of the world.

The legacy that our troops are going to leave behind is a legacy of lasting importance, as far as I'm concerned. It's a legacy that really is based upon our deep belief that people want to be free and that free societies are peaceful societies.

Some of the debate really centers around the fact that people don't believe Iraq can be free, that if you're Muslim or perhaps brown skinned, you can't be self-governing and free. I strongly disagree with that. I reject that because I believe freedom is the deepest need of every human soul. And if given a chance, the Iraqi people will be not only self-governing, but a stable and free society.

Let's see here, hold on.

Q. Mr. President, Why are you and the vice president insisting on appearing together before the 9/11 commission? And Mr. President, who will you be handing the Iraqi government over to on June 30?

A. We'll find that out soon. That's what Mr. Brahimi is doing. He's figuring out the nature of the entity we'll be handing sovereignty over. And secondly, because the the 9/11 commission wants to ask us questions. That's why we're meeting, and I look forward to meeting with them and answering their questions.

Q. Mr. President, I was asking why you're appearing together rather than separately, which was their request.

A. Because it's a good chance for both of us to answer questions that the 9/11 commission is looking forward to asking us, and I'm looking forward to answering them.

Let's see. Hold on for a minute. Oh — I've got some must calls, I'm sorry.

Q. You have been accused of letting the 9/11 threat mature too far, but not letting the Iraq threat mature far enough. First, could you respond to that general criticism? And secondly, in the wake of these two conflicts, what is the appropriate threat level to justify action in, perhaps, other situations going forward?

A. Yeah. I guess there have been some that said, well, we should have taken pre-emptive action in Afghanistan, and then turned around and said we shouldn't have taken pre-emptive action in Iraq. And my answer to that question is that — again, I repeat what I said earlier — prior to 9/11, the country really wasn't on a war footing. And the, frankly, mood of the world would have been astounded had the United States acted unilaterally in trying to deal with Al Qaeda in that part of the world. It would have been awfully hard to do, as well, by the way. We would have had — we hadn't got our relationship right with Pakistan yet. The caucus area would have been very difficult from which to base. It just seemed an impractical strategy at the time. And frankly, I didn't contemplate it. I did contemplate a larger strategy as to how to deal with Al Qaeda. We — you know, we were shooting cruise missiles and with little effect. And I said, if we're going to go after Al Qaeda, let's have a comprehensive strategy as to how to deal with it, with that entity.

After 9/11, the world changed for me, and I think changed for the country. It changed for me because, like many, we assumed oceans would protect us from harm, and that's not the case, that's not the reality of the 21st century. Oceans don't protect us. They don't protect us from killers. We're an open country and we're a country that values our openness. And we're a hard country to defend. And therefore, when we see threats overseas, we've got to take them — look at them in a new light. And I've given my explanation of Iraq.

Your further question was how do you justify any other pre-emptive action. The American people need to know my last choice is the use of military power. It is something that — it's a decision that is — it's a tough decision to make for any president because I fully understand the consequences of the decision. And therefore, we'll use all other means necessary when we see a threat to deal with, a threat that may materialize. But we'll never take the military off the table.

We've had some success as a result of the decision I took. Take Libya, for example. Libya was a nation that had — we viewed as a terrorist — a nation that sponsored terror, a nation that was dangerous because of weapons. And Colonel Qadaffi made the decision, and rightly so, to disclose and disarm for the good of the world. By the way, they found, I think, 50 tons of mustard gas, I believe it was, in a turkey farm only because he was willing to disclose where the mustard gas was. But that made the world safer.

The A. Q. Khan bust, the network that we uncovered, thanks to the hard work of our intelligence-gathering agencies and the cooperation of the British, was another victory in the war against terror. This was a shadowy network of folks that were willing to sell state secrets to the highest bidder. And that, therefore, made the world more unstable and more dangerous.

You've often heard me talk about my worry about weapons of mass destruction ending up in the hands of the wrong people. Well, you can understand why I feel that way having seen the works of A. Q. Khan. It's a dangerous — it was a dangerous network that we unraveled. And the world is better for it.

And so what I'm telling you is that sometimes we use military as the last resort, but other times we use our influence, diplomatic pressure and our alliances to unravel, uncover, expose people who want to do harm against the civilized world. We're at war. Iraq is a part of the war on terror. It is not the war on terror. It is a theater in the war on terror. And it's essential we win this battle in the war on terror. By winning this battle, it will make other victories more certain in the war against the terrorists.

Q. Sir, you've made it very clear tonight that you're committed to continuing the mission in Iraq. Yet as Terry pointed out, increasing numbers of Americans have qualms about it. And this is an election year.

A. Yeah.

Q. Will it have been worth it, even if you lose your job because of it?

A. I don't plan on losing my job. I plan on telling the American people that I've got a plan to win the war on terror. And I believe they'll stay with me. They understand the stakes. Look, nobody likes to see dead people on their television screens. I don't. It's a tough time for the American people to see that. It's gut-wrenching.

One of my hardest parts of my job is to console the family members who've lost their lives. It's a chance to hug and weep and to console and to remind the loved ones that the sacrifice of their loved one is — was done in the name of security for America and freedom for the world.

And one other thing that's very important, Judy — at least as far as I'm concerned — is to never allow our youngsters to die in vain. And I made that pledge to their parents. Withdrawing from the battlefield of Iraq would be just that. And it's not going to happen under my watch.

The American people may decide to change, that's democracy. I don't think so. I don't think so and I look forward to making my case. I'm looking forward to the campaign.

Now is the time to talk about winning this war on terror. Now's the time to make sure that the American people understand the stakes and the historic significance of what we're doing. And no matter where they may stand on this war, the thing I appreciate most about our country is the strong support given to the men and women in uniform. And it's vital support. It's important for those soldiers to know America stands with them. And we weep when they die and we're proud of the victories they achieve.

One of the things I'm also proud of is what I hear from our soldiers. As I mentioned, I pinned the Purple Heart on the — on some of the troops at the hospital there at Fort Hood, Texas. A guy looks at me and says, I can't wait to get back to my unit and fulfill the mission, Mr. President. The spirit is incredible. Our soldiers who have volunteered to go there understand the stakes and I'm incredibly proud of them.

Q. In the last campaign, you were asked a question about the biggest mistake you'd made in your life and you used to like to joke that it was trading Sammy Sosa. You've looked back before 9/11 for what mistakes might have been made. After 9/11, what would your biggest mistake be, would you say? And what lessons have you learned from it?

A. Hmmm. I wish you'd have given me this written question ahead of time so I could plan for it. I'm sure historians will look back and say, Gosh, he could have done it better this way or that way. You know, I just — I'm sure something will pop into my head here in the midst of this press conference with all the pressure of trying to come up with an answer, but it hadn't yet.

I would have gone into Afghanistan the way we went into Afghanistan. Even though what I know today about the stockpiles of weapons, I still would have called upon the world to deal with Saddam Hussein. See, I happen to believe we'll find out the truth on the weapons. That's why we sent up the independent commission. I look forward to hearing the truth as — exactly where they are. They could still be there. They could be hidden, like, the 50 tons of mustard gas in a turkey farm.

One of the things that Charlie Duelfer talked about was that he was surprised at the level of intimidation he found amongst people who should know about weapons and their fear of talking about them, because they don't want to be killed. You know, there's this kind of, there's this terror still in the soul of some of the people in Iraq. They're worried about getting killed. And therefore, they're not going to talk. And it'll all settle out. We'll find out the truth about the weapons at some point in time.

However, the fact that he had the capacity to make them bothers me today just like it would have bothered me then. He's a dangerous man. He's a man who actually not only had weapons of mass destruction — and the reason I can say that with certainty is because he used them. And I have no doubt in my mind that he would like to have inflicted harm or paid people to inflict harm or trained people to inflict harm on America because he hated us.

You know, I hope I don't want to sound like I've made no mistakes. I'm confident I have. I just haven't — you just put me under the spot here and maybe I'm not quick, as quick on my feet as I should be in coming up with one.

Q. Looking forward about keeping the United States safe, a group representing about several thousand F.B.I. agents today wrote to your administration begging you not to split up the law enforcement and the counterterrorism.

A. Yeah.

Q. Because they say it ties their hands. Yet you mentioned yesterday that you think, perhaps, the time has come for some real intelligence reforms. That can't happen without real leadership from the White House. Will you and how will you?

A. Well, you're talking about one aspect of possible. I think you're referring to what they call the MI-5. And I heard a summary of that from Director Mueller, who feels strongly that we — and he'll testify to that effect, I guess, tomorrow. I shouldn't be prejudging his testimony. But my point was that I'm open for suggestions. I look forward to seeing what the 9/11 commission comes up with. I look forward to seeing what the Silverman-Robb commission comes up with. I'm confident Congress will have some suggestions.

What I'm saying is let the discussions begin. And I won't prejudge the conclusion. As the president, I will encourage and foster these kinds of discussions, because one of the jobs of the president is to leave behind a legacy that will enable other presidents to better deal with the threat that we face. We are in a long war. The war on terror is not going to end immediately.

This is a war against people who have no guilt in killing innocent people. That's what they're willing to do. They kill on a moment's notice because they're trying to shake our will. They're trying to create fear. They're trying to affect people's behaviors. And we're simply not going to let them do that.

And my fear of course is that this will go on for a while. And therefore, it's incumbent upon us to learn from lessons or mistakes and leave behind a better foundation for presidents to deal with the threats we face. This is the war that other presidents will be facing as we head into the 21st Century.

One of the interesting things people ask me, now that we're asking questions, is can you ever win the war on terror? Of course, you can. That's why it's important for us to spread freedom throughout the Middle East. Free societies are hopeful societies. A hopeful society is one more likely to be able to deal with the frustrations of those who are willing to commit suicide in order to represent a false ideology. A free society is a society in which somebody is more likely to be able to make a living. A free society is a society in which someone is more likely to be able to raise their child in a comfortable environment and see to it that that child gets an education.

That's why I'm pressing the Greater Middle East reform initiative, to work to spread freedom. And we will continue on that. So long as I'm the president, I will press for freedom. I believe so strongly in the power of freedom. You know why I do? Because I've seen freedom work right here in our own country. I also have this belief, strong belief that freedom is not this country's gift to the world. Freedom is the Almighty's gift to every man and woman in this world.

And as the greatest power on the face of the earth, we have an obligation to help the spread of freedom. We have an obligation to help feed the hungry. I think the American people find it interesting that we're providing food for the North Korea people who starve. We have an obligation to lead the fight on AIDS, on Africa. And we have an obligation to work toward a more free world. That's our obligation. That is what we have been called to do, as far as I'm concerned.

And my job as the president is to lead this nation into making the world a better place. And that's exactly what we're doing. Weeks such as we've had in Iraq make some doubt whether or not we're making progress. I understand that. It was a tough, tough period. But we are making progress. And my message today to those in Iraq is we'll stay the course. We'll complete the job. My message to our troops is we'll stay the course and complete the job, and you'll have what you need. And my message to the loved ones who are worried about their, their sons, daughters, husbands, wives is your loved one is performing a noble service for the cause of freedom and peace.

Let's see, last question. Hold on for a second. Those who yell will not be asked.

Q. Following on both Judy and John's questions, and it comes out of what you just said in some ways, with public support for your policies in Iraq falling off the way they have quite significantly over the past couple of months, I guess I'd like to know if you feel in any way that you've failed as a communicator on this top?

A. Gosh, I don't know.

Q. Well, you deliver a lot of speeches. And a lot of them contain similar phrases and they vary very little from one to the next. And they often include a pretty upbeat assessment of how things are going with the exception of ——

A. I didn't think ——

Q. —— pretty somber assessment this evening.

A. Pretty somber assessment today, Don.

Q. I guess I just wonder if you feel that you have failed in any way? You don't have many of these press conferences where you engage in this kind of exchange. Have you failed in any way to make the case to the American public?

A. I guess if you put it into a political context, that's the kind of thing the voters will decide next November. That's what elections are about. They'll take a look at me and my opponent and say let's see which one of them can better win the war on terror. Who best can see to it that Iraq emerges as a free society. And Don, you know if I tried to fine tune my messages based upon polls I think I'd be pretty ineffective. I know I would be disappointed in myself.

I hope today you've got a sense of my conviction about what we're doing. If you don't, maybe I need to learn to communicate better. I feel strongly about what we're doing. I feel strongly that the course this administration is taking will make America more secure and the world more free. And therefore, the world more peaceful. It's a conviction that's deep in my soul. And I will say it as best as I can possibly can to the American people. I look forward to the debate and the campaign. I look forward to helping, for the American people to hear, you know, what is the proper use of American power. Do we have an obligation to lead or should we shirk responsibility?

That's how I view this debate. And I look forward to making it. I'll do it the best I possibly can. I'll give it the best shot. I'll speak as plainly as I can. One thing is for certain, though, about me, and the world has learned this, when I say something I mean it. And the credibility of the United States is incredibly important for keeping world peace and freedom.

Thank you all very much.

[ 04-14-2004, 01:58 AM: Message edited by: Timber Loftis ]
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Old 04-14-2004, 04:06 AM   #2
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Mostly spin that has a tendency to blame the people on the ground in Iraq for the policy failures of the occupation and the intelligence community for carrying out his instructions - rather a shameful speech and QA.

It belies what is increasingly becoming clear:
That the security services were busy holding back Al'Qaida until Bush told them to ease up.
That the US forces and contractors ground in Iraq *want* to do what's right by Iraq and are making an honest attempt to help ordinary Iraqi’s - but are thwarted time and time again by policies of idiocy emanating from the Oval office.
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Old 04-14-2004, 05:26 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally posted by Timber Loftis:
Q. I'd like to follow up on a couple of these questions that have been asked. One of the biggest criticisms of you is that whether it's W.M.D. in Iraq, postwar planning in Iraq or even the question of whether this administration did enough to ward off 9/11, you never admit a mistake. Is that a fair criticism? And do you believe that there were any errors in judgment that you made related to any of those topics I brought up?

A. Well, I think, as I mentioned, you know, it's the country wasn't on war footing. And yet we're at war. And that's just a reality. I mean that was the situation that existed prior to 9/11. Because the truth of the matter is, most of the country never felt that we'd be vulnerable to an attack such as the one that Osama bin Laden unleashed on us. We knew he had designs on us. We knew he hated us. But there was nobody in our government at least — and I don't think the prior government — could envision flying airplanes into buildings on such a massive scale.
I can't believe he still says:

"But there was nobody in our government at least — and I don't think the prior government — could envision flying airplanes into buildings on such a massive scale."

And
Quote:
Originally posted by Timber Loftis:
Q. Mr. President, Why are you and the vice president insisting on appearing together before the 9/11 commission? And Mr. President, who will you be handing the Iraqi government over to on June 30?

A. We'll find that out soon. That's what Mr. Brahimi is doing. He's figuring out the nature of the entity we'll be handing sovereignty over. And secondly, because the the 9/11 commission wants to ask us questions. That's why we're meeting, and I look forward to meeting with them and answering their questions.

Q. Mr. President, I was asking why you're appearing together rather than separately, which was their request.

A. Because it's a good chance for both of us to answer questions that the 9/11 commission is looking forward to asking us, and I'm looking forward to answering them.
Was he avoiding the question or just didn't understand it? I knew exactly what the questioner meant, why did they need to appear "together" before the 9/11 committee? Seemed pretty clear to me.

I admit the speech was pretty solid, but the unscripted question and answer period did not come off well at all. I thought they were going to pull the plug after his comment about flying planes into buildings. To be honest, if I had seen myself in a performance like that before the cameras, I would not be pleased. But that's just me!


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Old 04-14-2004, 06:16 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally posted by skywalker:
I can't believe he still says:

"But there was nobody in our government at least — and I don't think the prior government — could envision flying airplanes into buildings on such a massive scale."
Why not? I sometimes don't think people give President Bush enough credit. He managed to give an answer that can be 100% correct and still not rule out the fact that he had warning of a plan for someone to fly an airplane into a building.
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Old 04-14-2004, 09:40 AM   #5
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Quote:

Q. Mr. President, Why are you and the vice president insisting on appearing together before the 9/11 commission? And Mr. President, who will you be handing the Iraqi government over to on June 30?

A. We'll find that out soon. That's what Mr. Brahimi is doing. He's figuring out the nature of the entity we'll be handing sovereignty over. And secondly, because the the 9/11 commission wants to ask us questions. That's why we're meeting, and I look forward to meeting with them and answering their questions.

Q. Mr. President, I was asking why you're appearing together rather than separately, which was their request.

A. Because it's a good chance for both of us to answer questions that the 9/11 commission is looking forward to asking us, and I'm looking forward to answering them.
The real answer is because our time is precious and we don't have a lot of it to give for a fishing expedition, that will only come up with recomendations that we have or are putting in place. But the press couldn't handle that kind of answer
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Old 04-14-2004, 09:43 AM   #6
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Mark, did YOU envision someone flying a plane into a building -- for real? I mean, if you did, well good for you, but I did not. I mean a little prop plane maybe. But, a 747 or 3 aimed at buildings like the WTC? Prior to 9/11 that was stuff for only the movies.

NOw, to the question he "ducked." I think he knew full well what the question was. When this exchange happened, I told my wife, "some people duck a question, and some people just bull right over it as if it isn't there."
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Old 04-14-2004, 06:34 PM   #7
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Have you heard about the plots to crash planes into the Atlanta Olympics, the Eiffel Tower, the pilot episode of The Lone Gunman shown in the Spring of 2001?

The show had the threat of a passenger plane being flown into the WTC.

As a matter of fact, Condi retracted her statement about the subject because it had been imagined.

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Old 04-14-2004, 06:36 PM   #8
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Quote:
Originally posted by John D Harris:
real answer is because our time is precious and we don't have a lot of it to give for a fishing expedition, that will only come up with recomendations that we have or are putting in place. But the press couldn't handle that kind of answer
I thought it was because they didn't want Bush to answer questions alone. But, of course "I" would think that! [img]tongue.gif[/img]

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Old 04-14-2004, 06:47 PM   #9
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Bush and Cheney work as a team. I admit it's kinda nice that the Veep isn't just somebody who sits around waiting for the Pres. to die anymore, which was formerly the case.

Anywho, the real answer, while politically incorrect to say, is, "We're appearing so we can help you out. The team is the team, and the team can answer your questions. We're not going to put up with you trying to separate us and pit us against each other. We're the leaders of the country, not 2 kids you pulled over for smoking dope -- you aren't going to separate us just to try to find discrepancies in our stories to knit-pick."

But, then again, these quips are why I'll never be in that position.

And Bush did fine answering last night on his own. If you aren't keen and alert when you step into the presidency, you become keen and alert soon thereafter. It's a job that demands one rise to the occassion. 15-18 hour days, ost every day -- it ain't an easy job.
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Old 04-14-2004, 09:05 PM   #10
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Boy Timber, I did not see the same press conference that you did last night. Keen and alert do not describe my take on the President's performance.

Tomato - tomato, potato - potato, let's call the whole thing off!


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