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noble, and I am incredibly proud of our mili- was struck by what a bold decision that was. tary, and I know most of the American peo- And the disengagement is, I think, a part of ple are as well. making Israel more secure and peaceful, and Listen, thank you all very much. I agree with the Prime Minister. It’s important because the United States NOTE: The President’s news conference began at is a strong ally of Israel and, therefore, if 12:01 p.m. at the Bush Ranch. In his remarks, you’re a strong ally, you want there to be he referred to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran; Zalmay Khalilzad, U.S. Ambassador to peace for your ally. Iraq; senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Mr. Deckel. You know, the main concern Zarqawi; Cindy Sheehan, whose son Spc. Casey of Israel is that the disengagement might lead Sheehan, USA, died in Iraq on April 4, 2004; and not to more security but, on the contrary, Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA, commanding to more violence. Do you understand the general, Multi-National Force—Iraq. A reporter concerns? referred to Karen Hughes, Under Secretary of The President. Oh, absolutely, I under- State for Public Diplomacy. stand. And I can understand why people think this decision is one that will create a Interview With Israeli Television vacuum into which terrorism will flow. I hap- Channel 1 in Crawford, Texas pen to disagree. I think this will create an opportunity for democracy to emerge, and August 11, 2005 democracies are peaceful. And therefore, it’s Yaron Deckel. Mr. President, thank you very important for the United States, as an very much for the first interview granted to active participant in this process, to encour- Israeli TV and for hosting us in your beautiful age the formation of security forces that will ranch in Texas. defeat terror, just like the roadmap calls The President. Well, welcome. Thanks for—these are Palestinian security forces— for coming. It’s an honor to have you here, and to encourage the Palestinians to develop and it’s an honor to speak on Israeli TV. a peaceful state.

Prime Minister Sharon/Disengagement The Negev and Galilee Mr. Deckel. I understand why you like Mr. Deckel. You had announced that you this place better than the White House. will support the disengagement by some aid We are on the eve of the disengagement, the administration will provide Israel to de- and you have expressed your full support in velop the northern and southern—the Gal- disengagement, trying to help Prime Min- ilee and the Negev. ister Sharon in his struggle. And I would like The President. Right. to ask why is it so important to you, Mr. Mr. Deckel. Has any decision been made President? regarding this issue? The President. First of all, let me speak The President. Well, first of all, I did say about my relationship with Prime Minister when the Prime Minister was here that the Sharon, if you don’t mind. We’ve grown Negev and Galilee present great opportuni- close, and one of the reasons why is I appre- ties for economic development. And we un- ciate a person who when he says something, derstand that. So I’m going to send teams means it. And I hope he appreciates that over to assess the opportunities available for about me. In other words, I said early on, the United States to help Israel, and they’ll we’re going to join in fighting terror so that report back to me. But we have made no Israel could be secure and America secure focus yet on specific budget items. and other free nations secure. Secondly—and I have—and he knows I keep my word, and I know he keeps his word. Likud Party/Binyamin Netanyahu Secondly, what I appreciate is somebody who Mr. Deckel. Mr. President, are you trou- thinks boldly for peace. And Ariel Sharon bled by the fierce opposition Prime Minister came to the White House and said, ‘‘We’re Sharon, your partner, is facing in his own going to disengage from the Gaza.’’ And I camp, in the Likud Party? According to the

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polls, he might lose because of the disengage- to fight off the terrorists who would want to ment. stop the process for peace. The President. First of all, on democracy there’s going to be dissent. And secondly, the Hamas Prime Minister has made a very strong, bold Mr. Deckel. But would you accept a per- decision. And I can understand why people manent ceasefire with the Hamas movement, are debating the issue. But I’m confident he’s for instance? made the right decision. And I can also as- The President. Well, you know, Hamas sure the Israeli people the decision he made is on the terrorist group. has brought the United States and Israel Mr. Deckel. He made a ceasefire with even closer together. them. Mr. Deckel. Have you any opinion about The President. Well, he’s elected by the Mr. Netanyahu, who stands to succeed him Palestinians. I am not. On the other hand, and now is leading the opposition? I can express my opinions to him, which I The President. Well, I met Bibi have. And I don’t believe you can have a Netanyahu. Of course, he’s well known in the peaceful, democratic state with armed United States. He’s going to make the deci- groups willing to take the law in their own sion he thinks is necessary for Israel’s good, hands. and there’s just a disagreement between two Mr. Deckel. As a believer, Mr. President, friends. But I believe the decision that Prime what do you say to Jewish believers who think Minister Sharon has made and is going to that God sent them to settle in the biblical follow through on will be good for Israel. Israel, and they will not obey any decision Mr. Deckel. And why are you so sure it’s of elected government? going to lead to more security? The President. Well, you know, there are The President. Well, it’s an opportunity— admonitions in the Bible that does talk about first of all, the previous system wasn’t work- the role of government relative to man. And ing. I mean, there was an intifada; there was Israel is a democracy, and democracies are death; there was killing. And if you notice, able to express the will of the people. The there’s been a calm in attacks. One attack Prime Minister is expressing what he thinks is too many, but there’s been fewer attacks. is in the best interests of Israel, and the peo- And I think in the long run, two states living ple will decide, ultimately, whether or not side by side in peace is the ultimate solution that decision makes sense. for Israeli’s security. Mr. Deckel. You know, things in the Mid- In the meantime, we’ve got to work to dis- dle East constantly change. And nobody pre- mantle terrorist organizations, and that’s pre- dicted the U.S. will start dialog with the PLO cisely what the roadmap calls for. in the eighties, and then Prime Minister— late Prime Minister Rabin signing an accord President Abbas with Yasser Arafat. Do you see any similar Mr. Deckel. How urgent is it that Mr. development with the Hamas in the future? Abbas take more actions against terrorism? The President. Here’s what I see. I see How urgent is it? Because you said that it’s relations with a peaceful Palestinian state not enough, what they have done so far. that is run by—that is founded on democratic The President. Well, I think—and I’ve institutions. That’s what I believe can happen told that to the Prime Minister Abbas—or and should happen. I mean, in order to ulti- President Abbas. He’s a strong—he strongly mately defeat terror, whether it be in Pales- understands the need to dismantle terrorists. tinian territories or Iraq or Iran, there must He knows that a democracy can’t exist so long be open, transparent societies based upon as you’ve got armed groups willing to take rule of law. law in their own hands, and he’s committed to a democratic state. And we’ve got work Palestinian Control of Gaza to do with him, and that’s why we’ve got a Mr. Deckel. Your timeframe was a Pales- general on the ground there that’s helping tinian state in 2005. Would you like to update to try train and coordinate Palestinian forces the timeframe, Mr. President?

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The President. I think Israel—the people But we have a—let me finish the obliga- of Israel must understand that now is an op- tions. Israelis have obligations. The Palestin- portunity for the Palestinians to show leader- ians have obligations. The United States has ship and self-government in Gaza. And that’s an obligation. That’s why Mr. Wolfensohn why my focus is intensely upon Gaza. We and our general on the ground is there, to hope that the disengagement goes well. And help establish the institutions necessary for we understand that once Israel has with- a peaceful state to emerge. Arab nations have drawn, it’s now up to the Palestinians to show got obligations now: One, to not incite vio- the world that they can self-govern in a lence; Two, to help isolate and bring to jus- peaceful way. tice terrorists; and Three, to provide funds Mr. Deckel. You said that once the dis- to help these—the Gaza to become a place engagement is carried out, both sides will of prosperity and peace. help together to the roadmap to meet their obligations. And Prime Minister Sharon vowed that there will be no political progress until the Palestinians will act forcefully Iran against terrorism. Do you share this view with him? Mr. Deckel. You mentioned Iran, and I The President. Here’s the way I view it. wonder, Mr. President, how imminently is One, I think that the roadmap does call for the Iranian threat? There was a release lately dismantling terrorist organizations. And sec- of the U.S. intelligence that they won’t have ondly, I think—I know that the disengage- any capability in the next 10 years. Is this ment from Gaza presents an opportunity for your latest information, Mr. President? a Palestinian state which is peaceful to begin The President. My latest information is to grow. In other words, it goes to show that the Iranians refuse to comply with the that—that there’s a chance to show the demands of the free world, which is: Do not Israelis and the Palestinians that there’s a in any way, shape, or form have a program better life ahead. And in order to do that that could yield to a nuclear weapon. And in Gaza—in Gaza—— the United States and Israel are united in our objective to make sure that Iran does Obligations of Middle East Participants not have a weapon. And in this particular in- stance, the EU–3, Britain, France, and Ger- Mr. Deckel. So the burden is upon the many, have taken the lead, been helping to Palestinians once the disengagement is over? send the message, a unified message to the The President. I think the burden is on— Iranians. everybody has got obligations. You know, ob- Look, in all these instances we want diplo- viously, the peaceful withdrawal by Israelis macy to work. And so we’re working fever- from the Gaza is part of the burden. The ishly on the diplomatic route. And you know, terrorists—dismantling terrorist organiza- we’ll see if we’re successful or not. As you tions is part of the burden. I think the—— know, I’m—— Mr. Deckel. Should it be the first—the first step before anything other happens? Mr. Deckel. And if not? The President. Gaza? The President. Well, all options are on Mr. Deckel. The dismantling of the ter- the table. rorist organizations? Mr. Deckel. Including use of force? The President. Well, I think that’s a part The President. Well, you know, as I say, of a process. You see, dismantling a terrorist all options are on the table. The use of force organization is not only taking arms and iso- is the last option for any President. You lating terrorists, but it’s also showing the Pal- know, we’ve used force in the recent past estinians and the Israelis that a peaceful state to secure our country. It’s a difficult—it’s dif- can emerge. This is what the opportunity is. ficult for the Commander in Chief to put kids And that’s why I think that Prime Minister in harm’s way. Nevertheless, I have been Sharon’s decision was so bold. willing to do so as a last resort in order to

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secure the country and to provide the oppor- The President. Well, first of all, I’ll never tunity for people to live in free societies. forget waking up in the hotel and seeing this golden shine on the Old City. It was just— Iraq and I remember waking up Laura. I said, ‘‘Laura, you’re not going to believe—you’re Mr. Deckel. I won’t be finishing this inter- not going to believe this fantastic sight.’’ view without asking you about your decision The other thing, of course, that sticks in in Iraq. Knowing what you know today, you my mind was the helicopter tour I took of made the right decision, Mr. President? the West Bank, and my guide was Ariel Shar- The President. Yes. I did. The world is on. It was one of the great ironies of all time. safer without Saddam Hussein in power. I was a Governor; he was in the Cabinet. Mr. Deckel. Is it? And he said, ‘‘Would you like to take a heli- The President. Yes. Absolutely. Saddam copter ride?’’ to me. Governor Cellucci, who Hussein—you know, we made the decision went on to be the Ambassador to Canada, on a lot of factors. One factor, of course, is and Governor Leavitt, who is now in my Cab- that the world thought he had weapons of mass destruction, not just the United States inet, and Governor Racicot, the four of us, but the entire world. I went to the United we said, ‘‘Sure,’’ and we got in the chopper, Nations. The United Nations unanimously and the tour guide was Ariel Sharon as we passed a resolution that said to Saddam Hus- choppered all throughout the West Bank. sein, ‘‘Disarm, or face serious con- Mr. Deckel. Will you visit again? sequences.’’ Once again, he defied the world. The President. I’d love to visit again But we also made the case that Saddam sometime. Hussein had terrorist ties. Abu Nidal was in Mr. Deckel. In your term? Iraq. Zarqawi, the man who’s inflicting so The President. I hope so. And I hope to much murder and chaos on innocent Iraqis, visit and proclaim success as a result of a was in Iraq. Saddam Hussein was an enemy bold decision that Prime Minister Ariel Shar- of the United States, enemy of a lot of coun- on has made, and I think I’ll be able to do tries. And there’s no doubt in my mind that that. we’re safer as a result of him not being in Mr. Deckel. Mr. President, I do thank you power. And there’s no doubt in my mind that very much for this interview and for your a democratic Iraq will be a part of a change time. in the broader Middle East that will lay the The President. Thanks for coming. foundations for peace. You know, a lot of the world says, ‘‘Well, unless you are a certain type of person, you can’t live in a free society.’’ I strongly dis- agree with that. I believe that embedded into NOTE: The interview was taped at 7:17 a.m. at everybody’s soul is the desire to live in free- the Bush Ranch for later broadcast. In his re- dom. That’s what I believe, that there is an marks, the President referred to Prime Minister Almighty, and the Almighty plants a sense Ariel Sharon of Israel; President Mahmoud Abbas of being free. Therefore, if given a chance, (Abu Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; James people will live in a free society, and free D. Wolfensohn, Quartet Special Envoy for Gaza societies are peaceful societies. Disengagement; Lt. Gen. William E. Ward, USA, Senior U.S. Security Coordinator, Department of President’s Visit to Israel State; former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; Palestinian terrorist Abu Nidal, who was found Mr. Deckel. Any plans to visit in the state dead in Baghdad, Iraq, on August 19, 2002; and of Israel? I know you were there as a Gov- senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi. ernor of Texas. The transcript was released by the Office of the The President. I was. [Laughter] Press Secretary on August 12. A tape was not Mr. Deckel. What mostly impressed you available for verification of the content of this in the Holy Land? interview.

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Digest of Other cochairperson at the Delta Regional Author- White House Announcements ity. The President announced his intention to appoint Andre B. Lacy as a member of the The following list includes the President’s public John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing schedule and other items of general interest an- Arts Advisory Committee on the Arts. nounced by the Office of the Press Secretary and The President announced his intention to not included elsewhere in this issue. appoint Lance Edward Armstrong as a mem- ber of the President’s Cancer Panel. August 6 The President announced his intention to appoint Zell Miller as a member of the Amer- In the morning, at the Bush Ranch in ican Battle Monuments Commission. Crawford, TX, the President had an intel- ligence briefing. The President announced his intention to reappoint Pamela Nelson as a member of the August 8 Commission of Fine Arts. The President announced his recess ap- In the morning, the President had separate pointment of Eric S. Edelman as Under Sec- telephone conversations with Rebecca retary of Defense for Policy. Garang, widow of First Vice President Dr. John Garang de Mabior of Sudan, and with President Umar Hassan Ahmad al-Bashir of August 10 Sudan to express condolences over the death In the morning, the President had an intel- of First Vice President Garang and to discuss ligence briefing. Later, he traveled to Mont- the peace process in Sudan. He then had an gomery, IL, where, upon arrival, he met with intelligence briefing. USA Freedom Corps volunteer Linda Later in the morning, the President trav- Cesario. eled to Albuquerque, NM, where, upon ar- In the afternoon, the President returned rival, he met with USA Freedom Corps vol- to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX. unteer Sally Adams. Then he toured the Sandia Solar Tower Complex at Sandia Na- August 11 tional Laboratory. In the afternoon, the President returned In the morning, the President had an intel- to the Bush Ranch in Crawford, TX. ligence briefing. Later, he met with Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of De- August 9 fense Donald H. Rumsfeld, Chairman of the In the morning, the President had an intel- Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Richard B. Myers, ligence briefing. Later, he met with Vice USAF, and other officials to discuss military President Dick Cheney, Chairman Ben S. issues. Bernanke of the Council of Economic Advis- In the afternoon, the President had lunch ers, U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman, with military and foreign policy officials. Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao, Secretary Later, he met with Vice President Dick Che- of Agriculture Mike Johanns, Secretary of the ney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Treasury John Snow; Secretary of Commerce and other officials to discuss foreign policy Carlos M. Gutierrez, Director Joshua B. issues. Bolten of the Office of Management and The President announced his intention to Budget, and Director Allan B. Hubbard of nominate John J. Danilovich to be Chief Ex- the National Economic Council to discuss ecutive Officer of the Millennium Challenge the national economy. Corporation. The President announced his intention to The President announced his intention to nominate John E. Maupin, Jr., to be a mem- nominate Jacqueline Ellen Schafer to be an ber of the Social Security Advisory Board. Assistant Administrator (Economic Growth, The President announced his intention to Agriculture, and Trade) at the U.S. Agency appoint Alan R. Nelson as alternate Federal for International Development.

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