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CNN Live Event/Special
Bush Speaks on Iraq War, Wiretap Controversy, Stalled Patriot Act
Aired December 19, 2005 - 10:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: Well, as we've been talking about all morning, any moment now, President Bush will talk about Iraq again at a news conference. He likely will also face questions about the war and the domestic spying controversy.
Our White House correspondent Suzanne Malveaux is at the White House for the events this morning, and joins us in the moments leading up to it. Hello, Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hello, Daryn, of course, this is a very important moment for the president. This is really his wrap-up press conference he gives every year here in the East Room. Essentially, he is going to be taking questions dealing with the Iraq war, of course, that secret eavesdropping program that has become so controversial within the last 48 hours and of course the stalled Patriot Act.
All three of those issues, of course, going to be highlighted in the Q & A portion. The president, of course, is going to be making an opening statement. And this is a very important time for the president. The next six months or so are critical for this administration when it comes to moving forward with legislation. They expect small victories. That is certainly what they're hopping for.
And essentially the president wants to try to reassure Republicans that his agenda, particularly the Iraq agenda, is not going hurt them when it comes to election 2006. That is a very important priority of this administration. And, of course, the president is also engaged in trying to win the American people over when it comes to the Iraq war. He is trying to exploit, if you will, some of the divisions within the Democratic part, reassure Republicans, but also to get the message out that he believes in the long run and the long term that they will be successful.
But Daryn, I cannot understate the importance of the next six months for the political process to play out in Iraq, for the insurgency to be weakened and for those Republicans to feel as if they are comfortable with the president's agenda moving into 2006.
Suzanne, what about the timing of this particular news conference? We've heard from the president five speeches in the last 19 days. And we're about to hear from the president again, as he makes his way to the East Room. I'll let Suzanne take a seat as the president steps up to the podium.
And here's the president. GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Last night I addressed the nation about our strategy for victory in Iraq and the historic elections that took place in the country last week.
In a nation that once lived by the whims of a brutal dictator, the Iraqi people now enjoy constitutionally protected freedoms and their leaders now derive their powers from the consent of the governed. Millions of Iraqis are looking forward to a future with hope and optimism.
The Iraqi people still face many challenges. This is the first time the Iraqis are forming a government under their new constitution. The Iraqi constitution requires a two-thirds vote of the parliament for certain top officials, so the formation of the new government will take time as Iraqis work to build consensus.
And once the new Iraqi government assumes office, Iraq's new leaders will face many important decisions on issues such as security and reconstruction, economic reform and national unity.
The work ahead will require the patience of the Iraqi people and the patience and support of America and our coalition partners.
As I said last night, this election does not mean the end of violence. But it is the beginning of something new: a constitutional democracy at the heart of the Middle East.
And we will keep working toward our goal of a democratic Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself.
Our mission in Iraq is critical to victory in the global war on terror. After our country was attacked on September the 11th, and nearly 3,000 lives were lost, I vowed to do everything within my power to bring justice to those who were responsible.
I also pledged to the American people to do everything within my power to prevent this from happening again.
What we quickly learned was that Al Qaeda was not a conventional enemy. Some lived in our cities and communities and communicated from here in America to plot and plan with bin Laden's lieutenants in Afghanistan, Pakistan and elsewhere. Then they boarded our airplanes and launched the worst attack on our country in our nation's history.
This new threat required us to think and act differently. And as the 9/11 Commission pointed out, to prevent this from happening again, we need to connect the dots before the enemy attacks, not after. And we need to recognize that dealing with Al Qaeda is not simply a matter of law enforcement: It requires defending the country against an enemy that declared war against the United States of America.
As president and commander in chief, I have the constitutional responsibility and the constitutional authority to protect our country. Article 2 of the Constitution gives me that responsibility and the authority necessary to fulfill it. And after September the 11th, the United States Congress also granted me additional authority to use military force against Al Qaeda.
After September the 11th, one question my administration had to answer was, using the authorities I have, how do we effectively detect enemies hiding in our midst and prevent them from striking us again?
We know that a two-minute phone conversation between somebody linked to Al Qaeda here and an operative overseas could lead directly to the loss of thousands of lives. To save American lives, we must be able to act fast and to detect these conversations so we can prevent new attacks.
So, consistent with U.S. law and the Constitution, I authorize the interception of international communications of people with known links to Al Qaeda and related terrorist organizations.
This program is carefully reviewed approximately every 45 days to ensure it is being used properly. Leaders in the United States Congress have been briefed more than a dozen times on this program.
And it has been effective in disrupting the enemy while safeguarding our civil liberties. This program has targeted those with known links to Al Qaeda.
I've reauthorized this program more than 30 times since September the 11th attacks, and I intend to do so for so long as the nation faces the continuing threat of an enemy that wants to kill our American citizens.
Another vital tool in the war on terror is the Patriot Act. After September the 11th, Congress acted quickly and responsibly by passing this law, which provides our law enforcement and intelligence community key tools to prevent attacks in our country.
The Patriot Act tore down the legal and bureaucratic wall that kept law enforcement and intelligence authorities from sharing vital information about terrorist threats. It allows federal investigators to pursue terrorists with tools already used against other types of criminals.
America's law enforcement personnel have used this critical tool to prosecute terrorist operatives and their supporters and to break up cells here in America.
Yet key provisions of this law are set to expire in 12 days. The House of Representatives voted for reauthorization, but last week a minority of senators filibustered the Patriot Act, blocking the Senate from voting to reauthorize key provisions of this vital law.
In fact, the Senate Democratic leader boasted to a group of political supporters that the Senate Democrats had, quote, "killed the Patriot Act," end quote.
Most of the senators now filibustering the Patriot Act actually voted for it in 2001. These senators need to explain why they thought the Patriot Act was a vital tool after the September the 11th attacks but now think it's no longer necessary. The terrorists want to strike America again. And they hope to inflict even greater damage than they did on September the 11th. Congress has a responsibility to give our law enforcement and intelligence officials the tools the need to protect the American people.
The senators who are filibustering the Patriot Act must stop their delaying tactics and the Senate must vote to reauthorize the Patriot Act.
In the war on terror, we cannot afford to be without this law for a single moment.
As we fight the war on terror, we're also continuing to work to build prosperity for citizens. Because we cut taxes and restrained non-security spending, our economy is strong and it is getting stronger.
We added 215,000 new jobs in November. We've added nearly 4.5 million new jobs since May of 2003.
The unemployment rate is down to 5 percent; lower than the average of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s.
Despite hurricanes and high gas prices, third-quarter growth was 4.3 percent. More Americans own their own homes than at any time in our history. Inflation is low, productivity is high and consumer confidence is up.
We're heading into a new year with an economy that is the envy of the world. And we have every reason to be optimistic about our economic future.
We've made other important progress this year on the priorities of American families. We passed a good energy bill, and we're putting America on the path to make our economy less dependent on foreign sources of oil.
We were wise with taxpayers' money and cut non-security discretionary spending below last year's level. We passed the Central American-Dominican Republic Free Trade Agreement to open up markets and help level the playing field for America's workers and farmers and small businesses. We passed bankruptcy reform and class-action lawsuit reform.
I appointed John Roberts as the 17th chief justice of the United States. Chief Justice Roberts is poised to lead the Supreme Court with integrity and prudence for decades to come.
We've got more work to do in this coming year. To keep our economy growing we need to keep taxes low and make the tax relief permanent. We must restrain government spending. And I'm pleased that the House today has voted to rein in entitlement spending by $40 billion, and I urge the United States Senate to join them.
We must reduce junk lawsuits and strengthen our education system and give more Americans the ability to obtain affordable health insurance.
We must pass comprehensive immigration reform that protects our borders, strengthens enforcement and creates a new temporary worker program that relieves pressure on the border but rejects amnesty.
I look forward to the Senate holding an up-or-down vote on Judge Sam Alito and confirming him by January 20th as associate justice of the Supreme Court. Judge Alito has more prior judicial experience than any Supreme Court nominee in more than 70 years. He's a highly respected and principled jurist. And he will make our nation proud as a member of the high court.
As we prepare to spend time with our families this holiday season, we also stop to count our blessings. We're thankful for our courageous men and women in uniform who are spending the holidays away from loved ones standing watch for liberty in distant lands.
We give thanks for our military families, who love and support them in their vital work and who also serve our country.
And we pray for the families of the fallen heroes. We hold them in our hearts and we lift them up in our prayers and we pledge that the sacrifice of their loved ones will never be forgotten.
I'd be glad to answer some questions.
QUESTION: Thank you, sir. Are you going to order a leaks investigation into the disclosure of the NSA surveillance program? And why did you skip the basic safeguard of asking courts for permission for these intercepts?
BUSH: Let me start with the first question.
There's a process that goes on inside the Justice Department about leaks, and I presume that process is moving forward.
My personal opinion is it was a shameful act, for someone to disclose this very important program in time of war.
The fact that we're discussing this program is helping the enemy.
You've got to understand, and I hope the American people understand, there is still an enemy that would like to strike the United States of America, and they're very dangerous.
And, you know, the discussion about how we try to find them will enable them to adjust.
Now, I can understand you asking these questions. And if I were you, I'd be asking me these questions too.
But it is a shameful act by somebody who has got secrets of the United States government and feels like they need to disclose them publicly.
Let me give you an example about my concerns about letting the enemy know what may or may not be happening.
In the late 1990s, our government was following Osama bin Laden because he was using a certain type of telephone. And then the fact that we were following Osama bin Laden because he was using a certain type of telephone made it into the press as the result of a leak.
And guess what happened. Osama bin Laden changed his behavior. He began to change how he communicated.
We're at war. And we must protect America's secrets. And so, the Justice Department, I presume, will proceed forward with a full investigation.
I haven't ordered one. But, as I understand, there's, kind of, a natural progression that will take place when this kind of a leak emerges.
The second part of the question is -- sorry; I gave a long answer.
QUESTION: It was: Why did you skip the basic safeguards of asking courts for permission for the intercepts?
BUSH: First of all, right after September the 11th, I knew we were fighting a different kind of war. And so I asked people in my administration to analyze how best for me and our government to do the job people expect us to do, which is to detect and prevent a possible attack. That's what the American people want.
We looked at the possible scenarios. And the people responsible for helping us protect and defend came forth with the current program, because it enables us to move faster and quicker, and that's important. We've got to be fast on our feet, quick to detect and prevent.
We use FISA still. You're referring to the FISA accord in your question. Of course we use FISAs.
But FISAs is for long-term monitoring. What is needed in order to protect the American people is the ability to move quickly to detect.
And having suggested this idea, I then, obviously, went to the question, is it legal to do so? I swore to uphold the laws. Do I have the legal authority to do this? And the answer is, absolutely.
As I mentioned in my remarks, the legal authority is derived from the Constitution, as well as the authorization of force by the United States Congress.
QUESTION: Mr. President, you have hailed the Iraqi elections as a success. But some lawmakers say you are not focusing on the threat of civil war.
Do you fear a civil war? And how hard will you push Iraq's competing political parties to get a government and a constitutional compromise?
BUSH: No, I appreciate that.
We look at all contingencies, but my optimism about a unified Iraq moving forward was confirmed when over 10 million people went to the polls under a -- and voted for a constitutional -- a government under the new constitution.
I mean, constitutions tend to bind societies.
Now, there are some things we've got to watch, for certain.
One is, we've got to help the Iraqi government best as they need help to stand up a government as quickly as possible. In other words, we're urging them: "Don't delay. Move as quickly as you can. Solve the -- you know, get the political parties -- once the vote is completed, get the political parties together and come up with a government."
And it's going to take a while, because, first of all, the ballots won't be fully counted, I guess, until early January.
And then, as I mentioned in my remarks, it takes a two- thirds vote to seat certain officials. Sometimes it's hard to achieve a two- thirds vote in legislative bodies. How about the Senate, for example?
(LAUGHTER)
But, nevertheless, it's going to take a while.
And the American people have got to understand that we think in terms of elections. Most of our elections end the day after the election. Sometimes they don't.
(LAUGHTER)
And so you're going to see a lot of give and take, and it's important for us to get this process moving forward.
Secondly, there is an opportunity to amend the constitution. You remember that was part of the deal with the Iraqis in order to get this process moving. And we'll want to make sure we're monitoring and involved with that part.
In other words, involvement doesn't mean telling the sovereignty government what to do. Involvement means giving advice as to how to move forward so a country becomes more unified.
And I'm very optimistic about the way forward for the Iraqi people. And the reason why is based on the fact that the Iraqis have shown incredible courage.
Think about what has happened in a brief period of time -- relatively brief. I know with all the TV stations and stuff in America, two and a half years seems like an eternity. But in the march of history, it's not all that long. They have gone from tyranny to an amazing election last December (sic).
If I'd've stood up here a year ago in one of my many press conferences and told you that, "Next year I make this prediction to you: that over 10 million Iraqis, including many Sunnis, will vote for a permanent government," I think you probably would have said, "There he goes again."
But it happened. And it happened because the Iraqis want to live in a free society.
And what's important about his election is that Iraq will become an ally in the war on terror and Iraq will serve as a beacon for what is possible, a beacon of freedom in a part of the world that is desperate for freedom and liberty.
And, as I say in my speeches, a free Iraq will serve as such a optimistic and hopeful example for reformers, from Tehran to Damascus. And that's an important part of a strategy to help lay the foundation of peace for generations.
QUESTION: So many questions, so little time.
BUSH: Well, keep your questions short, then.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: I'll do my best, sir.
(LAUGHTER)
Sir, you've shown a remarkable spirit of candor in the last couple of weeks in your conversations, speeches about Iraq. And I'm wondering if, in that spirit, I might ask you a question that you didn't seem to have an answer for the last time you were asked.
And that is: What would you say is the biggest mistake you've made during your presidency, and what have you learned from it?
BUSH: Answering Dickerson's question.
The last time those questions were asked, I really felt like it was an attempt for me to say it was a mistake to go into Iraq.
And it wasn't a mistake to go into Iraq. It was the right decision to make.
I think that there's going to be a lot of analysis done on the decisions on the ground in Iraq. For example, I'm fully aware that some have said it was a mistake not to put enough troops there immediately -- or more troops.
I made my decision based upon the recommendations of Tommy Frank. And I still think it was the right decision to make. But history will judge.
I said the other day that a mistake was trying to train a civilian defense force and an Iraqi army at the same time, but not giving the civilian defense force enough training and tools necessary to be able to battle a group of thugs and killers.
And so we adjusted.
And the point I'm trying to make to the American people in this, as you said, candid dialogue -- I hope I've been candid all along -- but, the candid dialogue, is to say we're constantly changing our tactics to meet the changing tactics of an enemy. And that's important for our citizens to understand.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.
If you believe that present law needs to be faster, more agile, concerning the surveillance of conversations from someone in the United States to somewhere outside the country, why, in the four years since 9/11, has your administration not sought to get changes in the law instead of bypassing it, as some of your critics have said?
BUSH: I appreciate that.
First, I want to make it clear to the people listening that this program is limited in nature to those that are known Al Qaeda ties and/or affiliates.
That's important. So it's a program that's limited.
And you brought up something that I want to stress, and that is is that these calls are not intercepted within the country, they are from outside the country to in the country or vice versa. So in other words, if you're calling from Houston to L.A., that call is not monitored. And if there was ever any need to monitor, there would be a process to do that.
I think I've got the authority to move forward. I mean, this is what -- and the attorney general was out briefing this morning about why it's legal to make the decisions I make.
I can fully understand why members of Congress are expressing concerns about civil liberties. I know that. And I share the same concerns.
I want to make sure the American people understand, however, that we have an obligation to protect you, and we're doing that and at the time protecting your civil liberties.
Secondly, an open debate about law would say to the enemy, "Here's what we're going to do." And this is an enemy which adjusts.
We monitor this program carefully. We have consulted with members of the Congress over a dozen times. We are constantly reviewing the program. Those of us who review the program have a duty to uphold the laws of the United States. And we take that duty very seriously.
QUESTION: You say you have an obligation to protect us. Then why not monitor those calls between Houston and L.A.? If the threat is so great and you use the same logic, why not monitor those calls?
Americans thought they weren't being spied on in calls overseas; why not within the country if the threat is so great?
BUSH: We will, under current law, if we have to. We will monitor those calls.
And that's why there is a FISA law. We will apply for the right to do so.
And there's a difference...
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
BUSH: Let me finish.
There is a difference between detecting, so we can prevent, and monitoring. And it's important to note the distinction between the two.
QUESTION: But preventing is one thing. And you say the FISA laws essentially don't work because of the speed in monitoring calls overseas.
BUSH: I say we use the FISA courts to monitor calls. It's a very important tool and we do use it. I just wanted to make sure we've got all tools at our disposal.
This is an enemy which is quick and it's lethal. And sometimes we have to move very, very quickly. But if there is a need based upon evidence, we will take that evidence to a court in order to be able to monitor calls within the United States.
QUESTION: Democrats have said that you have acted beyond the law and that you've even broken the law. There are some Republicans who are calling for congressional hearings and even an independent investigation.
Are you willing to go before members of Congress and explain this eavesdropping program? And do you support an independent investigation?
BUSH: We have been talking to members of the United States Congress. We have met with them over 12 times. And it's important for them to be brought into this process.
Again, I repeat, I understand people's concerns. But I also want to assure the American people that I am doing what you expect me to do, which is to safeguard civil liberties and at the same time protect the United States of America.
And we've explained the authorities under which I'm making our decisions and will continue to do so.
Secondly, there are two committees on the Hill which are responsible, and that's the Intelligence Committees. Again, any public hearings on programs will say to the enemy, "Here's what they do. Adjust."
This is a war. Of course we consult with Congress and have been consulting with Congress. And we'll continue to do so.
QUESTION: You've talked about your decision to go to war and the bad intelligence. And you've carefully separated the intelligence from the decision, saying that it was the right decision to go to war despite the problems with the intelligence, sir.
But, with respect, the intelligence helped you build public support for the war. And so, I wonder if now, as you look back, if you look at that intelligence and feel that the intelligence and your use of it might bear some responsibility for the current divisions in the country over the war.
And what can you do about it?
BUSH: Yeah. No, I appreciate that.
First of all, I can understand why people were -- you say, "Well, wait a minute: Everybody thought there was weapons of mass destruction; there weren't any." I felt the same way.
We'd looked at the intelligence and felt certain that Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. You know, intelligence agencies around the world felt the same way, by the way.
Members of the United States Congress looked at the National Intelligence Estimate, the same intelligence estimate I looked at, and came to the same conclusion.
So in other words, there was a universal feeling that he had weapons of mass destruction. As a matter of fact, it was so universal that the United Nations Security Council passed numerous resolutions.
And so, when the weapons weren't there, like many Americans, I was concerned and wondered why.
That's why we set up the Silberman-Robb commission, to address intelligence shortfalls, to hopefully see to it that this kind of situation didn't arise.
Now, having said all that, what we did find after the war was that Saddam Hussein had the desire to -- or the liberation -- Saddam had the desire to reconstitute his weapons programs. In other words, he had the capacity to reconstitute them.
America was still his enemy. And, of course, he manipulated the oil-for-food program in the hopes of ending sanctions. In our view, he was just waiting for the world to turn its head, to look away, in order to reconstitute the programs.
He was dangerous then. It's the right decision to have removed Saddam.
Now, I will continue to speak to the American people on this issue, to not only describe the decision-making process but also the way forward.
I gave a speech prior to the liberation of Iraq when I talked about a broader strategic objective, which is the establishment of democracy, and I talked about democracy in Iraq.
Certainly, it's not the only rationale. I'm not claiming that. But I also want you to review that speech so that you get a sense for not only the desire to remove a threat but also the desire to help establish democracy.
And the amazing thing in Iraq, as a part of a broader strategy to help what I call lay the foundation of peace: democracies don't war; democracies are peaceful countries.
And what you're seeing now is a historic moment, because I believe democracies will spread. I believe when people get the taste for freedom or see a neighbor with a taste for freedom, they will demand the same thing, because I believe in the universality of freedom. I believe everybody has the desire to be free.
I recognize some don't believe that. That was -- basically condemned some to tyranny. I strongly believe that deep in everybody's soul is the desire to live in liberty, and if given a chance, they will choose that path.
And it's not easy to do that. The other day I gave a speech and talked about how our road to our Constitution -- which got amended shortly after it was approved -- pretty bumpy. We tried the Articles of Confederation; it didn't work. There was a lot of, kind of, civil unrest.
But nevertheless, deep in the soul are a desire to live in liberty. People have got the patience and the steadfastness to achieve that objective. And that is what we're seeing in Iraq.
And it's not going to be easy. It's still going to be hard, because we're getting rid of decades of bitterness.
You find these secret, you know, prisons, where people have been tortured; you know, that's unacceptable.
And yet there are some who still want to have retribution against people who harmed them.
I'll tell you an amazing story; at least I thought it was amazing.
We had people, first-time voters -- or voters in the Iraqi election come in to see me in the Oval. They had just voted that day and they came in. It was exciting to talk to people.
And one person said, "How come you're giving Saddam Hussein a trial?"
I said, "First of all, it's your government, not ours."
She said, "He doesn't deserve a trial. You know, he deserves immediate death for what he did to my people."
And it just struck me about how strongly she felt about the need to not have a rule of law, that there needed to be quick retribution, that he didn't deserve it.
And I said to her, "Don't you see that the trial itself stands in such contrast to the tyrant that that in itself is a victory for freedom and a defeat for tyranny, just the trial alone, and it's important that there be rule of law?"
My only point to you is there's a lot of work to get rid of the past, yet we're headed in the right direction. And it's an exciting moment in history.
QUESTION: Thank you, Mr. President.
Getting back to the domestic spying issue for a moment, according to FISA's own records, it's received nearly 19,000 requests for wiretaps or search warrants since 1979, rejected just five of them. It also operates in secret, so security shouldn't be a concern. And it can be applied retroactively.
Given such a powerful tool of law enforcement is at your disposal, sir, why did you see fit to sidetrack that process?
BUSH: We used the process to monitor.
But also, this is a different era, different war. It's a war where people are changing phone numbers and phone calls, and they're moving quick. And we've got to be able to detect and prevent.
I keep saying that. But this is -- it requires quick action.
And without revealing the operating details of our program, I just want to assure the American people that, one, I've got the authority to do this; two, it is a necessary part of my job to protect you; and three, we're guarding your civil liberties.
And we're guarding the civil liberties by monitoring the program on a regular basis, by having the folks at NASA (sic), the legal team as well as the inspector general, monitor the program, and we're briefing Congress.
This is a part of our effort to protect the American people.
American people expect us to protect them and protect their civil liberties. I'm going to do that. That's my job, and I'm going to continue doing my job.
QUESTION: Following up on Wendell's question about the intelligence failures ahead of Iraq, one of the side effects appears to have been that the United States has lost some credibility with its allies when it goes to them with new intelligence.
You, for example, or your administration, has been sharing with some of your allies the contents of a laptop computer that was found in Iran concerning their nuclear program.
Yet you are still...
BUSH: Is that classified?
No. Never mind.
QUESTION: Yet you are still having some difficulty convincing people that Iran has a nuclear program.
Can you tell us whether or not you think one of the side effects of the intelligence failure has been that it has limited your ability to deal with future threats like Iran, like North Korea or any other future threats concerning terrorists?
BUSH: I hate to admit it, but that's an excellent question.
(LAUGHTER)
No question that the intelligence failure on weapons of mass destruction caused all intelligence services to have to step back and re-evaluate the process of gathering and analyzing intelligence. No doubt about that.
And so, there's been a lot of work done to work with other intelligence agencies to share information about what went right and what went wrong, as well as to build credibility among all services.
I think where it is going to be most difficult to make the case is in the public arena. People will say, you know, if we're trying to make the case on Iran, you know, "Well, the intelligence failed in Iraq; therefore, how can we can trust the intelligence in Iran?"
And part of the reason why there needs to be a public message on this is because the first hope and the first step is a diplomatic effort to get the Iranians to comply with the demands of the free world.
If they don't, along the diplomatic path, there's always the United Nations Security Council.
But that case of beginning to say to the Iranians, "There are consequences for not behaving," requires people to believe that the Iranian nuclear program is, to a certain extent, ongoing.
And so we're working hard on that. I mean, it's no question that the credibility of intelligence is necessary for good diplomacy.
QUESTION: Do you intend to make that case publicly, sir? (OFF- MIKE) laid out the evidence on Iran before?
BUSH: Well, I think that the best place to make the case now is still in the counsels of government; in convincing the E.U.-3, for example, to continue working the diplomatic angle. Of course we want this to be solved diplomatically, and we want the Iranians to hear a unified voice. I think people believe that -- I know this: People know that an Iran with the capacity to manufacture a nuclear weapon is not in the world's interest.
That's universally accepted.
And that should be accepted universally, particularly after what the president recently said about the desire to annihilate, for example, an ally of the United States.
And so, the idea of Iran having a nuclear weapon is -- people say, "Well, we can't let that happen."
The next step is to make sure that the world understands that the capacity to enrich uranium for a civilian program would lead to a weapons program. And so therefore, we cannot allow the Iranians to have the capacity to enrich.
One of the reasons why I proposed working with the Russians -- the Russian idea of allowing Iran to have a civilian nuclear plant power industry without enriched material -- in other words, the enriched material -- without enriching material -- the enriched material would come from Russia, in this case, and be picked up by the Russians -- was to prevent them from having the capacity to develop a nuclear weapon.
So I think there's universal agreement that we don't want them to have a weapon. And there is agreement that they should not be allowed to learn how to make a weapon.
And beyond that, I think that's all I'm going to say. Appreciate it.
QUESTION: I wonder if you can tell us today, sir, what, if any, limits you believe there are or should be on the powers of a president during wartime.
And if the global war on terror is going to last for decades, as has been forecast, does that mean that we're going to see, therefore, a more or less permanent expansion of the unchecked power of the executive in American society?
BUSH: First of all, I disagree with your assertion of unchecked power.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
BUSH: Hold on for a second, please.
There is the check of people being sworn to uphold the law, for starters.
There is oversight. We're talking to Congress all the time.
And on this program, to suggest there's unchecked power is not listening to what I'm telling you. I'm telling you, we have briefed the United States Congress on this program a dozen times.
This is an awesome responsibility, to make decisions on behalf of the American people. And I understand that. And we'll continue to work with the Congress, as well as people within our own administration, to constantly monitor a program such as the one I described to you, to make sure that we're protecting the civil liberties of the United States.
To say "unchecked power" basically is ascribing some kind of dictatorial position to the president, which I strongly reject.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
BUSH: I just described limits on this particular program, and that's what's important for the American people to understand. I am doing what you expect me to do and, at the same time, safeguarding the civil liberties of the country.
QUESTION: Looking ahead to this time next year, what are the top three or top five -- take your pick -- accomplishments that you hope to have achieved?
And in particular, what is your best-case scenario for troop levels in Iraq at this time next year?
BUSH: This is the ultimate benchmark question. You're trying to not only get me to give benchmarks in Iraq, but also benchmarks domestically.
I hope the world is more peaceful.
I hope democracy continues to take root around the world.
And I hope people are able to find jobs. The job base of this country has expanded and we need to keep it that way. We want people working.
I want New Orleans and Mississippi to be better places.
I appreciate very much the progress that Congress is making toward helping a vision of New Orleans rising up and the Gulf Coast of Mississippi being reconstructed.
I think we can make good progress down there.
One of the key decisions our administration's made is to make sure that the levees are better than they were before Katrina, in New Orleans. That will help people have the confidence necessary to make investments, to take risk and to expand.
Appreciate the Congress, and I'm looking forward to the Senate affirming the U.S. Congress's decisions to fund the education, or reimburse states for education. There's some good health care initiatives in the bill.
We want to make sure that people don't get booted out of housing. We want to work carefully to make sure people understand that there are benefits or help available for them to find housing.
We want to continue to move temporary housing on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi so people can get better, closer to their neighborhoods and get their homes rebuilt.
We want to start helping Mayor Nagin get temporary housing near New Orleans so, as his economy comes back, people will be able to find jobs.
I appreciate the fact that the Congress have passed the "go zone," tax incentives in order to attract capital into the region.
So one of my hopes is that people are able to find hope and optimism after the Katrina disaster down there, that people's lives get up and running again, that people see a brighter future.
I've got a lot of hopes. And I'm looking forward to working with Congress to achieve some big goals.
QUESTION: (OFF-MIKE)
BUSH: Yes, you see, I hope by now you've discovered something about me: that when I say we're not going to have artificial timetables of withdrawal and/or, you know, trying to get me out on a limb on what the troop levels will look like, the answer to your question on troop levels is it's conditions-based.
We have an objective in Iraq, and as we meet those objectives, our commanders on the ground will determine the size of the troop levels.
Nice try.
Andy, your try.
(LAUGHTER)
Joe?
QUESTION: Mr. President, you said last night that there are only two options in Iraq, withdrawal or victory. And you asked Americans, especially opponents of the war, to reject partisan politics.
Do you really expect congressional Democrats to end partisan warfare and embrace your war strategy? And what can you do about that, to make that happen?
BUSH: Actually, I said that victory in Iraq is much larger than a person, a president or a political party.
And I've had some good visits with Senate and House Democrats about the way forward. They share the same concerns I share. You know, they want our troops out of Iraq as quickly as possible, but they don't want to do so without achieving a victory.
These are good, solid Americans, that agree that we must win for the sake of our security.
And I'm interested in their ideas and will continue to listen carefully to their ideas.
On the other hand, there are some in this country that believe, strongly believe, that we ought to get out now. And I just don't agree with them. It's the wrong strategy. And I'd like to tell you, again, why.
One, it would dishearten the Iraqis. The Iraqis are showing great courage to setting up a democracy. And a democracy in Iraq -- I know I've said this; I'm going keep saying it, because I want the American people to understand a democracy in Iraq is vital in the long run to defeating terrorism. And the reason why is, is because democracy is hopeful and optimistic.
Secondly, it sends the wrong signal to our troops. We've got young men and women over there sacrificing, and all of a sudden, because of politics or some focus group or some poll, they stand up and say, "We're out of there."
I can't think of anything more dispiriting to a kid risking his or her life than to see decisions made based upon politics.
Thirdly, it sends the wrong signal to the enemy. It just says: "Wait them out. They're soft, they don't have the courage to complete the mission. All we got to do is continue to kill and get these images on the TV screens, and the Americans will leave." And all that will do is embolden these people.
Now, I recognize there is a debate in the country, and I fully understand that, about the nature of the enemy. I hear people say, you know, "Because we took action in Iraq, we stirred them up. They're dangerous."
No, they were dangerous before we went into Iraq. That's what the American people have got to understand. That's why I took the decision I took on the NSA decision, because I understand how dangerous they are, and they want to hit us again.
Let me say something about the Patriot Act, if you don't mind. It is inexcusable for the United States Senate to let this Patriot Act expire.
You know, there's an interesting debate in Washington -- and you're part of it -- that says: Well, they didn't connect the dots prior to September the 11th -- "they" being not only my administration but previous administrations.
I understand that debate. I'm not being critical of you bringing this issue up and discussing it. But there was also -- you might remember, if you take a step back, people were pretty adamant about hauling people up to testify and wondering how come the dots weren't connected.
Well, the Patriot Act helps us connect the dots. And now the United States Senate is going to let this bill expire -- not the Senate; a minority of senators.
And I want senators from New York or Los Angeles or Las Vegas to go home and explain why these cities are safer.
It is inexcusable to say, on the one hand, connect the dots and not give us a chance to do so.
We've connected the dots -- are trying to connect the dots with the NSA program.
And again, I understand the press and members of the United States Congress saying, "Are you sure you're safeguarding civil liberties?" That's a legitimate question and an important question. And today I hope I helped answer that.
But we're connecting dots as best as we possibly can.
I mentioned in my radio address -- my live TV radio address -- that there were two killers in San Diego making phone calls prior to the September the 11th attacks. Had this program been in place then, it is more likely we would have been able to catch them.
But they're making phone calls from the United States overseas, talking about -- who knows what they're talking about, but they ended up killing -- being a part of the team that killed 3,000 Americans.
And so -- I forgot what got me on this subject. But, nevertheless, we're doing the right thing.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: Mr. President, in making the case for domestic spying, could you tell us about planned attacks on the U.S. that were thwarted through your domestic spying plan?
And also, on the issue of race, since you brought up the issue of Katrina, 2005 gave us your defense of yourself on race. And some are still not sold on that. In 2006, what are you giving to the nation on the issue of race, as we're looking to the renewal of the Voting Rights Act in 2007 and things of that nature?
BUSH: Yeah, thanks.
The fact that some in America believe that I am not concerned about race troubles me. One of the jobs of the president is to help people reconcile and to move forward and to unite.
You know, one of the most hurtful things I can hear is, you know, "Bush doesn't care about African-Americans," for example.
First of all, it's not true. And secondly, I am -- I believe that -- obviously, I've got to do a better job of communicating, I guess, to certain folks. Because my job is to say to people, "We're all equally American and the American opportunity applies to you just as much as somebody else."
And so I will continue to do my best to reach out.
Now you talked about -- and we have an opportunity, by the way, in New Orleans, for example, to make sure the education system works; to make sure that we promote ownership. I think it is vitally important for ownership to extend to more than just a single community. I think the more African-Americans own their own business, the better off America is.
I feel strongly that if we can get people to own and manage their own retirement accounts, like personal accounts in Social Security, it makes society a better place.
You know, I want people to be able to say, "This is my asset." Heretofore, kind of, asset accumulation may have been only a segmented part of our society. We want assets being passed from one generation to the next.
I take pride in this statistic, that more African-Americans own a home -- or more minorities own a home now than ever before in our nation's history, not just African-Americans. That's positive.
Still want to make sure, though, that people understand that I care about them and that my view of the future, a bright future, pertains to them as much as any other neighborhood.
Now, you mentioned the Voting Rights Act. Congress needs to reauthorize it, and I'll sign it.
The other question was...
QUESTION: Sir, the other...
BUSH: You asked a multiple-part question.
QUESTION: Yes, I did.
BUSH: Thank you for violating the multiple-part question rule.
QUESTION: I didn't know there was a law on that.
(LAUGHTER)
BUSH: There's not a law.
(LAUGHTER)
It's an executive order.
(LAUGHTER)
In this case, not monitored by the Congress.
(LAUGHTER)
Nor is there any administrative oversight.
(LAUGHTER)
QUESTION: Well, without breaking any laws, back on domestic spying. Making the case for that, can you give us some example...
BUSH: Oh, I got you. Yes, sorry.
No, I'm not going to talk about that, because it would help give the enemy notification and/or perhaps signal to them methods and uses and sources. And we're not going to do that.
It's really important for people to understand that the protection of sources and the protections of methods and how we use information to understand the nature of the enemy is secret.
And the reason it's secret is because, if it's not secret, the enemy knows about it, and if the enemy knows about it, it adjusts.
And, again, I want to repeat what I said about Osama bin Laden, the man who ordered the attack that killed 3,000 Americans.
We were listening to him. He was using a type of cell phone -- or a type of phone. And we put it in a newspaper -- somebody put it in the newspaper that this was the type of device he was using to communicate with his team. And he changed.
I don't know how I can make the point more clear that any time we give up -- and this is before they attacked us, by the way. Revealing sources, methods and what we use the information for simply says to the enemy: "Change."
Now, if you don't think there's an enemy out there, then I can understand why you ought to say, "Just tell us all you know." I happen to know there's an enemy there. And the enemy wants to attack us.
That is why I hope you can feel my passion about the Patriot Act. It is inexcusable to say to the American people, you know, we're going to be tough on terror but take away the very tools necessary to help fight these people.
And by the way, the tools exist still to fight medical fraud, in some cases, or other -- drug dealers. But with the expiration of the Patriot Act, it prevents us from using it to fight the terrorists. Now, that is just unbelievable.
And I'm going to continue talking about this issue and reminding the American people about the importance of the Patriot Act and how necessary that it is for us in Washington, D.C., to do our job to protect you.
QUESTION: One of the things we've seen this year is the reduction in your approval ratings. And I know how you feel about polls, but it appears to be taking something out of your political clout, as evidenced by the Patriot Act vote.
What do you attribute your lowered polls to? And are you worried that independents are losing confidence in your leadership?
BUSH: My job is to confront big challenges and lead. And I fully understand everybody is not going to agree with my decisions. But the president's job is to do what he thinks is right, and that's what I'm going to continue to do.
Secondly, if people want to play politics with the Patriot Act, it's -- well, let me just put it, it's not in the best interests of the country.
And yesterday, or this morning, I spoke to the speaker, who called me. He said, "Mr. President, we have a pretty good couple of days. Got your budget passed; got the Katrina relief package going forward. We're supporting our troops; got the free trade" -- we talked about passing CAFTA in the past. I mean, we've done a lot.
And it's good for the country, by the way.
And so, I'm just going to keep doing my job, David. You can keeping focusing on all these focus groups and polls and all that business. My job is to lead.
I keep telling the American people what I believe, work to bring people together to achieve a common objective, stand on principle, and that's the way I'm going to lead.
I did so in 2005, and I'm going to do so in 2006.
Thank you all for coming. Happy holidays to you. Appreciate it.
KAGAN: We've been listening in to President Bush for just about an hour now, giving his year-end news conference in the White House, as reporters stand as the president leaves the room.
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