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

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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 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 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.

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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 , 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. But that was informa- President Bush. Visa issue? tion of predecessor of Mr. Blix in Warsaw, Q. Visa. Visas—[inaudible]—President, that absolutely Iraq is ready to produce if do you offer anything on the visa policy it’s necessary to keep the power of and for the Polish people? the dictatorship of Saddam and to play such President Bush. Well, we’re working with important role in the region. the President on this very delicate issue. President Bush. Yes, Dave [David Greg- And there is the opportunity for some ory, NBC News]. prescreening to make sure that Polish citi- Q. Mr. President, but how do you de- zens headed to the United States are not scribe and account for the difference be- inconvenienced. We’ve got a study group tween what you claimed prior to the war we’re going to put together to make sure about what he possessed and what he was that we come up with rational policy. But capable of, and what the intelligence said let me make sure everybody understands: he possessed and was capable of in terms The Congress decides the visa policy. of a within the decade, and That’s what the Congress decides. And our the fact that David Kay says the intel- study group will work with the Polish au- ligence was inaccurate and wrong, and thorities in a way that makes it clear what nothing has been found? Don’t you owe the realities are here in the United States the American people an explanation? and makes it clear what the realities are President Bush. Well, I think the Iraqi on the ground in Poland. Survey Group must do its work. Again, I Listen, let me just take a step back on appreciate David Kay’s contribution. I said this very important issue. We value our in the runup to the war against Iraq that— friendship with Poland. Poland is our great first of all, I hoped the international com- friend. There are thousands of Polish munity would take care of him. I was hop- Americans who—— ing the United Nations would enforce its President Kwasniewski. Millions.

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President Bush. Millions, excuse me. I President Bush. Well, it could be. Let just don’t want to overstate the case here. me also say that I announced a very impor- [Laughter] tant piece of legislation—or called Congress President Kwasniewski. Especially before to an important piece of legislation, which the election—millions and millions. [Laugh- is to issue temporary-worker cards, which ter] will help address much of the issue with President Bush. ——that love Poland and the Polish people. And I would hope Con- that have got relatives in Poland. And we gress would pass rational immigration pol- understand the need for dialog and travel. icy—that is, not amnesty—rational immi- We’ve got visa rules set by the Congress gration policy that matches willing worker that we just—that are on the books. And with willing employer. And that also will we look forward to working with the Presi- help on this issue. dent on these issues. President Kwasniewski. It will help very President Kwasniewski. We will work, of much. We appreciate it very much. But, course, but I would like to deliver this idea please, dear President, the future is no visa. to you and to our friends. The future of President Bush. Thank you all. the world is without visa, not with visa. That should be our goal. NOTE: The President spoke at 11:23 a.m. in President Bush. Yes. the Oval Office at the White House. In his President Kwasniewski. And of course, remarks, he referred to David Kay, former how to reach this important goal, that is CIA Special Advisor for Strategy Regarding task for politicians, because the future of Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction Pro- the world, with Poland, with Eastern Eu- grams; and former President Saddam Hus- rope, with the world is no visa, not visa. sein of Iraq. President Kwasniewski referred That’s—me, very modest citizen of Poland, to Hans Blix, former executive chairman, I speak to you. That is the future—that United Nations Monitoring, Verification, and is the future. Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC).

The Polish-American Alliance for the 21st Century: Joint Statement by President George W. Bush and Polish President Aleksander Kwasniewski January 27, 2004

As partners in building a Europe whole, welcome Poland’s pending entry into the free, and at peace at the end of the 20th European Union, and affirm that NATO century, Poland and the United States will and the EU must work together for the continue to work together, and with our common good of their members and the European friends and allies, to achieve a world. We are determined to strengthen more secure, prosperous, and just world in transatlantic relations, forging renewed the 21st century. Today, we pledge to unity, and acting in common purpose on deepen the strategic alliance that joins our the many challenges before us. We will do two nations, an alliance rooted in shared so at the June NATO Summit in Istanbul, values and a common struggle for freedom. where we will celebrate a united, enlarged The foundation of Polish and American Alliance of 26 nations in strategic partner- security remains the NATO Alliance, which ship with an enlarged EU, cooperating with will maintain its mission to defend its mem- Russia and Ukraine, and preparing to han- bers in the face of new challenges. We dle the security challenges of our time. We

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