Remarks Prior to Discussions with President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland and an Exchange with Reporters January 27, 2004
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Jan. 26 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 What a fantastic gift that is to teach a child NOTE: The President spoke at 11:14 a.m. at to read. After all, I like to say reading is the Baptist Health Medical Center. In his the new civil right. And you can help. remarks, he referred to Russell D. Har- The strength of this country is the fact rington, Jr., president and chief executive of- that we’re a compassionate country. And ficer, Baptist Health System; Doug Weeks, there are thousands of people who are sol- senior vice president and administrator, Bap- diers in the army of compassion, working tist Health Medical Center; Gov. Mike hard to change lives, just like you’re doing Huckabee and Lt. Gov. Win Rockefeller of here at this hospital. Arkansas; Mayor Jim Dailey of Little Rock, I’m so grateful that you gave me a AR; Mayor Patrick Hays of North Little chance to come by and talk about issues Rock, AR; State Senator Gilbert Baker and of national concern. I’m particularly grate- State Representative Marvin Parks of Arkan- ful for the love you show for people who hurt here in society. This country is a great sas; and Khalid Sheik Mohammed, senior Al country because it is full of great people. Qaida leader responsible for planning the I’m honored to be here. May God bless September 11 attack, who was captured in your work, and may God continue to bless Pakistan on March 1, 2003. America. Thank you. Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Aleksander Kwasniewski of Poland and an Exchange With Reporters January 27, 2004 President Bush. I want to welcome my [At this point, President Kwasniewski spoke good friend and a good friend of our coun- in Polish, and no translation was provided.] try to the White House. I appreciate so President Kwasniewski. And now to very much you coming by, Mr. President. Americans—— I’ve gotten to know this man well over President Bush. We’ll answer some ques- the years. He is a leader. He understands tions here. that people need to lead their country to- President Kwasniewski. Some questions wards peace and freedom and prosperity, and maybe short statement to you, be- and President Kwasniewski is doing just cause—— that. He’s making a mark on the continent President Bush. Absolutely, they love to of Europe through his leadership. He be informed. stands strong. President Kwasniewski. ——you under- In every conversation I’ve had with him, stand Polish, or not fully? he has a deep love for the Polish people. President Bush. Well, he speaks French, He expresses his desire for close relations, but not Polish. [Laughter] because he understands close relations be- President Kwasniewski. French is the tween our countries is in the people’s inter- next time, not yet. est. I would like to say that it is a tradition; And Mr. President, I’m so glad you’re we began each year with this Polish-Amer- back. I appreciate your friendship. I appre- ican consultation. Last year was very impor- ciate your strength. Welcome. tant, difficult. We are together as allies in President Kwasniewski. I must talk in Iraq. I’m sure that we have all chances Polish because I see Polish TV here. to finish this mission with success, in favor 138 1 2005 11:38 Dec 19 2006 Jkt 201942 PO 00000 Frm 00138 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\201942A 005 201942A Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 / Jan. 27 of Iraqi people, in favor of the security U.S. Military Aid for Poland in the world, in favor of all of us. And Q. Polish Television, a question for Mr. this visit I hope will be very good to solve President Bush. Mr. President, there is a some of our bilateral issues, which are nec- feeling in Poland that America is not doing essary to eliminate in our relations, because enough for Polish effort in Iraq. Are you the people, especially the people in Poland planning to extend military support for Po- and Polish Americans, they expect very land? much to make the relations between Poland President Bush. I look forward to talking and the United States as excellent as pos- to my friend about that today. In my ’05 sible. And with such a friend as George budget request there is a $66 million re- W. Bush, I’m sure that they are ready to quest to help the Polish military, particu- do. larly with airlift capacity, C–130 aircraft. President Bush. Thank you, sir. Terry The Polish army is a sophisticated, fine [Terence Hunt, Associated Press]. group of soldiers. And one area where Po- land needs some help is the capacity to Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction move those soldiers, and we look forward to helping the Government do that. Q. Mr. President, a year ago you said the dictator of Iraq has got weapons of Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction/ Prewar mass destruction. Are you still confident Intelligence that weapons of mass destruction will be Q. Mr. President, do you have any ques- found in Iraq, given what Dr. Kay has said? tions about the prewar intelligence? And President Bush. Let me first compliment the Democrats are wanting an independent Dr. Kay for his work. I appreciate his will- commission to look into this. Would you ingness to go to Iraq and I appreciate his go along with that? willingness to gather facts. And the Iraqi President Bush. Well, first of all, I think Survey Group will continue to gather facts. the—I think it’s very important for us to There is no doubt in my mind that Sad- let the Iraq Survey Group do its work so dam Hussein was a gathering threat to we can find out the facts and compare the America and others. That’s what we know. facts to what was thought. We know from years of intelligence, not The first part of your question was? only our own intelligence services but other Q. Do you have any questions about the intelligence-gathering organizations, that he prewar intelligence? Were you ill-served by had weapons. After all, he used them. He the intelligence community? had deep hatred in his heart for people President Bush. Well, first of all, I’ve got who love freedom. We know he was a dan- great confidence in our intelligence com- gerous man in a dangerous part of the munity. These are unbelievably hard-work- world. We know that he defied the United ing, dedicated people who are doing a great Nations year after year after year. And job for America. given the events of September the 11th, And secondly, there is no doubt in my we know we could not trust the good inten- mind that Saddam Hussein was a grave and tions of Saddam Hussein; he didn’t have gathering threat to America and the world. any. There is just no doubt in my mind. And There is no doubt in my mind the world I say that based upon intelligence that I is a better place without Saddam Hussein. saw prior to the decision to go into Iraq, America is more secure. The world is safer, and I say that based upon what I know and the people of Iraq are free. today. And the world is better off without You want to call on the Polish press? him. And we’re now in the business of President Kwasniewski. Yes, please. making sure Iraq is free and democratic. 139 ug 31 2005 11:38 Dec 19 2006 Jkt 201942 PO 00000 Frm 00139 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\201942A 005 201942A Jan. 27 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2004 And that’s important as well for long-term resolutions, one of many. And then we stability and peace in the world. And we’re went to the United Nations, of course, and making good progress toward that goal. got an overwhelming resolution—1441— President Kwasniewski. May I add one unanimous resolution that said to Saddam, thing? ‘‘You must disclose and destroy your weap- President Bush. Sure, please. ons programs,’’ which obviously meant the President Kwasniewski. Because it might world felt he had such programs. He chose be quite interesting for American journal- defiance. It was his choice to make, and ists. he did not let us in. Many months before Iraqi action, I met I said in the runup that Saddam was predecessor of Hans Blix in Warsaw. I in- a grave and gathering danger; that’s what vited him to my palace, and we discussed I said. And I believed it then, and I know about mass destruction weapons, Iraq, and it was true now, and as Mr. Kay said, that everything. And he told me very important Iraq was a dangerous place. And given the thing, that Saddam has these weapons or circumstances of September the 11th, given is ready to produce these weapons, because the fact that we’re vulnerable to attack, this to have such an impression that he has Nation had to act for our security. mass destruction weapons is a part of his doctrine to keep own power in Iraq and to be strong in the region. Visa and Immigration Policy So I think that it’s very difficult today Q. Will you—[inaudible]—this week the to judge how it was when he had—when visas for Polish tourists coming to the he decided to continue this project of mass United States? destruction weapons.