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do their job. And we moved a Marine group NOTE: The interview began at 9:30 a.m. in the of troops in, secured the port. Remember Roosevelt Room at the White House and was the first issue was the port? Would the made available by the Office of the Press Sec- United States act to secure the airport and retary on October 2 but was embargoed for re- port? Yes, we did. Would we create the con- lease until 8 p.m. In his remarks, the President referred to President Mwai Kibaki of Kenya; ditions necessary for ECOWAS to move in, President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa; President and then eventually blue-helmet the oper- Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe; Prime Minister ation, which happened yesterday, and that Tony Blair of the United Kingdom; Secretary of encouraged others to participate along with State Colin L. Powell; President Joaquim Alberto the United Nations? You bet we did. Chissano of Mozambique; former Senator John Now, we’ve kept a presence there. We’ve Danforth, Special Envoy for Peace in the Sudan; kept a presence there to help ECOWAS. So and President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. A we’ve done everything we said we would do. reporter referred to former President Charles And the strategy has worked. I recognize Taylor of Liberia. Participating in the interview there was sporadic fire, or however you want were Martin Mbugua, correspondent, Daily Na- tion; Kevin Kelley, correspondent, The to describe it, yesterday. And I suspect that EastAfrican; Charlie Cobb, senior writer and dip- that may happen on an infrequent basis. lomatic correspondent, allafrica.com; and Esther But the process is working. The United Githui, international broadcaster, Voice of Amer- Nations will move in. They will help super- ica Swahili Services. A tape was not available for vise the elections. Hopefully, they will be verification of the content of this interview. free and fair. This is a good role for the United Nations. And in the meantime, more troops will be coming in. We worked collabo- Remarks at a Reception Honoring ratively with the United Nations to help sign Heritage Month up nations to blue-helmet—to be blue- October 2, 2003 helmeted. And so I’m pleased with the progress we have made in Liberia. We have Thank you very much. Sientese. Sientese, kept our word. We have done exactly what Embajador. Thank you for coming. we said we would do. Bienvenidos. Mi casa es su casa. I want to Q. Just not exactly what you were asked thank you all for coming to celebrate His- to do. panic Heritage Month. The President. Well, sometimes, Charlie, You know, this Nation is blessed by the we don’t do exactly what everybody asks us talents and the hard work of Hispanic Ameri- to do. We get a lot of requests. And in this cans, and we’re really blessed by the values case, it fit—the strategy was a part of a larger of familia y fe that strengthen our Nation strategy on the continent to help people help, on a daily basis. It is fitting we honor His- in this case, the regional situation to resolve panic Americans in our country. It’s part of it. our country—an incredibly important part of ECOWAS has done a very good job. Presi- our country. I also think it’s fitting that the dent Obasanjo gets a lot of credit for re- way to honor Hispanic Americans is to revel sponding and moving Nigerian troops in and in the vitality of the Hispanic culture that providing the command structure along with was displayed today, the music that honors our help. I think the situation has turned out the roots, the rhythm, the life of the Latino. a lot better than people assumed it was going I appreciate my Ambassador to , to, and there’s progress still to be done. And Tony Garza. He’s been a long-time friend. the United Nations is now in charge of the He was the secretary of state in the State process, but we’re keeping people there to of Texas. It gave him a chance to learn diplo- help with our Nigerian friends. macy. [Laughter] He’s a great man and a Q. Thank you, Mr. President. great friend. The President. Thank you all, yes. I guess I have asked people from Hispanic herit- it’s over. [Laughter] age to join my administration: Hans Hertell,

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who is the Ambassador to the Dominican Re- Texas—I emphasize ‘‘the great State of public, is with us. Hans brought his family Texas’’—John Cornyn. The chairwoman of with him. [Laughter] the Congressional Hispanic Conference, I’ve got a Cabinet Secretary de , who Ileana Ros-Lehtinen from . Mario is Mel Martinez. I don’t know if you know Diaz-Balart from Florida is with us. Devin Mel’s story. This speaks volumes about our Nunes from California—donde esta Devin? Nation and about Mel’s upbringing. In the It’s an old trick here in Washington, get your early sixties, Cuban parents were worried name on the roster, but don’t show up. about their sons growing, their daughters [Laughter] At least you get mentioned. growing up in tyranny. They were afraid [Laughter] Bob Beauprez of Colorado is with about what it would be like for a child to us. Jon Porter is with us, from the great State grow up in a world in which terror reigned of Nevada. Thank you, Jon. Jerry Weller is and there was no freedom. And so Mel’s par- with us. From Arizona, Rick Renzi is with ents put him on an airplane destined for the us. And finally, from New Mexico, Steve United States of America. Pearce. Thank you for coming. I want to Imagine the choice of a parent—I would thank you all for being here. It’s a good sign daresay there’s really only one country, that Members of the Congress take an inter- though, that a parent would be feeling com- est in the Hispanic Heritage Month. And I fortable of sending their child to, and that’s appreciate you coming. America, because of what we stand for. Mel I also want to thank Brian Sandoval, who is Pedro Pan. He is now in the Cabinet of is the attorney general from the State of Ne- the President of the United States, which vada. It’s awfully kind for him to come all speaks volumes about you, Mel, and volumes the way over here. Brian, thank you, sir. I about our country as well. am so pleased that my friend Hector Barreto is with us today, runs the is here. Emilio helps put this event on. SBA. Where are you, Hector? Donde esta? Emilio puts this event on—or helps us put Thank you, Hector. Everybody needs to have this event on every year. And it’s awfully kind a good abogado. [Laughter] I’ve got a really of you to do this. It’s good to see you. good one. [Laughter] Al Gonzales is my law- I am also honored that Lisa Guerrero is yer and close friend. Eduardo Aguirre is the with us. Lisa, thank you very much for serv- Director of Citizenship and Immigration ing as the emcee. I appreciate you being on Services. Welcome, Eduardo. Gaddi TV on Monday nights too. [Laughter] Vazquez—donde esta, Gaddi? Where is he? Carlos Ponce—thank you for coming, Car- Peace Corps, running the Peace Corps. He’s los. I appreciate you, Carlos. It’s good to see out recruiting new members. [Laughter] you again. It’s good to see you on Monday Adonde? Oh, yes, there he is. Gaddi got here night as well. a little late. [Laughter] I’m so honored that Father Cutie is here. I want to thank these folks for serving our Thank you very much for leading us in the administration so well. We’ve got ambas- blessing. sadors from around the world here with us Bacilos, thank you, guys, for being the today. I am honored that Embajador Jose— young stars. The Ambassador turned to me Juan Jose Bremer de Mexico esta aqui. Good and said, ‘‘These are the young dudes, the to see you, Jose. Hugo Guiliani de el Domini- young stars of the music scene.’’ [Laughter] can Republic. Senor Embajador. Luis I can see why. Congratulations. Thank you Alberto Moreno Mejia de Colombia. for your leadership. Embajador Rene Leon from El Salvador, Alexandre, thank you very much. Fan- good to see you, sir. Francisco Javier Ruperez tastic. You know, Alexandre, I love your spir- de Espana. Murilo Gabrielli, who is the Dep- it. It’s clear to see your heart and soul, and uty Chief of Mission from Brazil, thank you thank you very much. You were good for coming, Murilo. tambien, mi amigo de Puerto Rico. What a I’m so honored that Members of . Thank you very much. United States Congress are here with us I am—let me see. I’m probably going to today. The Senator from the great State of leave somebody out here as we get moving

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through here. Victor, thank you. Awesome You’ve got a lot of poise and a lot of talent, job. I appreciate you coming. and we’re honored that you’re here with us Obviously, the person who invited the today. Thanks for coming. We’re really glad guest list here knows I love baseball. We’ve you’re here. And thanks for bringing your lit- got a lot of the baseball stars here. I do love tle brother. I hope he’s nice to you all the baseball. One of my favorite baseball players time. [Laughter] of all time is a person who’s going to be in The contributions of the Hispanic commu- the Hall of Fame, and that’s Rafael Palmeiro nity have made this country stronger and bet- of the Texas Rangers. I want to thank you ter. Today we honor the contributions with for coming. And Lynne is here. Thank you the entertainment we had here in the East for coming, Lynne. Room. I don’t know if you know this, but I’m glad you brought your manager with this is a common occurrence for the Bush you. He’s not exactly a Latino ballplayer, but administration, to honor men and women of he’s a fine guy, and that’s Buck Showalter. Hispanic descent, to honor their presence Thank you for coming, Buck, and thank you and listen to their talents. But this has hap- for bringing your family. It’s good to see you pened throughout the years in the White all. House. Magglio Ordonez of the Chicago White There’s been some interesting moments Sox is with us. Where are you, Magglio? Yes, here. Pablo Casals was a Spanish-born cellist. thank you, buddy. Congratulations. Great He lived in Puerto Rico. He performed for season, yes. We’re watching you. We’ve got two Presidents—catch this—the first was the dish upstairs. [Laughter] Bartolo Theodore Roosevelt in 1904 and the second Colon—donde esta Bartolo? I can see why was John Kennedy in 1961—57 years in be- you can throw it hard. [Laughter] Fuerte. tween his first and second visit. Nevertheless, Carlos Beltran of the Kansas City Royals— he graced this room and this house. Carlos, good job. Donde esta Jose Lima? There he is—Jose. Yes. You’re back. [Laugh- We’ve also had Jose Limon. He’s a modern ter] Congratulations on having a great year. dancer—Edward Villella to my family’s Tino Martinez, Saint Louis Cardinals; Nelson friend Gloria Estefan. You should have Figueroa of the Pirates. Where’s Nelson? brought her. [Laughter] Yes, thank you, Nelson. Are you sure you’re One Hispanic entertainer we remember in old enough to qualify? [Laughter] Vladimir a special way today is the Queen of Salsa, Guerrero—yes, Vladimir. Glad you’re here, Celia Cruz. She was an unforgettable per- Vladimir. Thanks for coming. former who fled Cuba in 1960. She became I also know your general manager really a U.S. citizen and spent the rest of her life well. He’s a really good guy, isn’t he? Omar sharing the rhythms of her homeland with Minaya, mi amigo. Thank you for coming, people all around the world. Celia Cruz Omar. And congratulations. I knew you’d passed away 3 months ago. We miss her, and make it all along. You’re probably wondering we honor today to welcome her husband, why I didn’t make you general manager of Pedro. Bienvenidos. the Rangers, but nevertheless—[laughter]— We are not only blessed with the culture Omar is the general manager of the Montreal of the Hispanic in America; we’re also Expos. He really does a great job, and I’ve blessed by the fact that our country is known Omar a long time. He’s a great base- strengthened because of the spirit of hard ball guy. More important, he’s a good person. work and enterprise. It’s part of the Latino I’m really proud to have you here. culture. We see the spirit in thousands of Just to show you that we’re multisport peo- small businesses and the careers of business ple here, it is my honor to welcome Carlos people all across our country. One of the Arroyo. Carlos, I want to thank you very most vibrant parts of our economy is the much for coming. He’s the basketball player small-business sector, and one of the vibrant for the Utah Jazz. Carlos. parts of the small-business sector is the Katie, thank you very much for leading us Latinos who own small businesses, really one in the anthem. You’ve got a beautiful voice. of the great success stories of America.

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Tell you a story about Lou Sobh, who is Constitution of the United States of America. with us today. In 1960, he left Mexico, no What made that moment amazing to me is money, and he couldn’t speak the language. that he had kept that oath for decades before He came to America. He didn’t—he couldn’t he took it. I’m proud of the sergeant. I’m speak the language at all, so he worked, and proud to call him citizen. I’m proud to call he taught himself English. He ended up be- him fellow citizen to America. coming a janitor in a department store, a Through the lives of people like Sergeant hard worker. He had a dream, and he was Denogean and Lou and Celia Cruz, it is clear working toward his dream. He served in the that the American Dream belongs to todos. United States Army. He got out of the Army, It’s for everybody, not just a few. And that’s and he had a dream to open up his own car the greatness of our country. It’s the spirit dealership. Today, he owns 14—not one car of America. And it’s important that this gen- dealership but 14 car dealerships. He em- eration and future generations keep that ploys 800 people. He’s got three car fran- dream alive. chises in Mexico. He’s living proof of the We’ve got to make sure that hard work American Dream—an incredibly important is a place that is respected and rewarded. part of our Nation, the Latino spirit of hard We must make sure that our entrepreneurs, work and drive and enterprise. And Lou, I entrepreneurs from all walks of life have the want to congratulate you for being a success opportunity to dream and work hard and re- and setting an example. Thank you for com- alize their ambitions. We must make sure ing, sir. that the dream of homeownership is available Today, as we celebrate Hispanic Heritage for every citizen in our country. We must Month, we also must take pride in the gen- make sure that every child gets educated, erations of Hispanic Americans who have that the public schools educate every single served in America’s Armed Forces, served to child, those whose parents may speak protect and defend a nation they love. Forty- English, those whose parents may not yet two Hispanic Americans—42—quarenta y speak English. Education belongs to every- dos—have earned the highest military deco- body. High standards belongs to everybody. ration, the Medal of Honor. That’s a lot. We must challenge the soft bigotry of low Today, men and women of Hispanic heritage expectations in American public schools. continue to serve and sacrifice in the defense We’re proud of our country. We’re a of freedom. They have our respect, and they strong country. We’re militarily strong, and have our gratitude. I’ll keep us that way. But our wealth isn’t Earlier this year, at the National Naval really found in our military or our pocket- Medical Center, I had an amazing experi- books. The true strength of America is found ence. Eduardo was there. I had the chance in the character of the American people, in and privilege of meeting a patriot, Master the courage of the people, the creativity of Gunnery Sergeant Guadalupe Denogean. our people, and in the compassion of our Sergeant Denogean is an immigrant from people. Mexico. He has served in the Marine Corps As Governor, and now as President, I’ve for 25 years. Last spring, he was wounded seen the character of America and the char- in combat in Basra, Iraq, and he was sent acter of millions of Hispanic Americans who back for treatment. They asked Sergeant make our Nation a better place. The warmth Denogean, did he have any requests? He said and the vitality of the Hispanic culture, the he had two. He wanted a promotion for the energy and faith of Hispanic men and women corporal who helped rescue him, and the sec- are great gifts to America. I want to thank you all for coming to cele- ond request is he wanted to be an American brate those gifts. Que Dios los bendiga a citizen. todos, y que Dios bendiga a los Estados I was there the day Sergeant Denogean Unidos. Thank you for coming. took his oath of citizenship. Eduardo admin- istered the oath. In a hospital where he was NOTE: The President spoke at 3:35 p.m. in the recovering, this son of Mexico raised his right East Room at the White House. In his remarks, hand and pledged to support and defend the he referred to Secretary Murilo Gabrielli, head

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of the Cultural and Public Affairs section, Bra- I think he told me he opened up 37 different zilian Embassy in Washington, DC; Lisa Guer- precinct stations—— rero, FOX Sports broadcast journalist; Carlos Mr. Kerik. Thirty-five. Ponce, actor and television personality; Father The President. ——35 different precinct Alberto Cutie, network talk show host; Latin music group Bacilos; Brazilian musi- stations. They activated and trained 35,000 cian Alexandre Pires; Lynne Palmeiro, wife of Iraqi police force. And that’s important be- baseball player Rafael Palmeiro; Edward Villella, cause the ultimate solution to the security founding artistic director and chief executive offi- issues in Iraq is for the Iraqi citizens to man- cer, City Ballet; and entertainer Gloria age their own affairs. Estefan. The Office of the Press Secretary also Bernie went there and made a big dif- released a Spanish language transcript of these re- ference. And for that our Nation is very marks. grateful. We appreciate it a lot. Mr. Kerik. Thank you. Statement on House of The President. We’re going to start train- Representatives Passage of ing police officers in Jordan soon. As well, Legislation Banning Partial-Birth tomorrow, 750 new Iraqi army soldiers will Abortion graduate from training. Part of our strategy is to enable the Iraqis to protect themselves. October 2, 2003 Mr. Kerik can speak to this, but in a very short period of time, we’re making great I applaud the House for passing the ban progress. Iraq is becoming more secure, and on partial-birth abortion so soon after the that is good. It is good for our overall mission Congressional conferees completed their because a free and peaceful Iraq will mean work. Today’s action is an important step that that America is more secure. will help us continue to build a culture of I’ll make one other comment, then Bernie life in America. I look forward to the Senate will say a few words. passing this legislation so that I can sign this Mr. David Kay reported to the Nation. I very important bill into law. want to thank him for his good work. He is a thoughtful man. He and his team have Remarks Following a Meeting With worked under very difficult circumstances. Former New York City Police They have done a lot of work in 3 months, Commissioner Bernard Kerik and an and he reported on an interim basis. Exchange With Reporters The report states that Saddam Hussein’s regime had a clandestine network of biologi- October 3, 2003 cal laboratories, a live strain of deadly agent botulinum, sophisticated concealment ef- The President. Thank you all for coming. forts, and advanced design work on prohib- I’ll make a couple of statements. I’m going ited longer range missiles. The report sum- to ask Bernie Kerik to make a statement, and marized the regime’s efforts in this way, and I’ll answer two questions before I go to Mil- I quote from the report: waukee. First, I want to welcome Bernie Kerik to ‘‘Iraq’s WMD programs spanned more than the South Lawn and to the Oval Office. We two decades, involved thousands of people, just had a fascinating discussion about what billions of dollars, and was elaborately shield- he did in Iraq, what he saw in Iraq. He can ed by security and deception operations that speak for himself. But let me characterize continued even beyond the end of Operation it this way, that he went to help the Iraqis Iraqi Freedom.’’ organize a police force. He showed up at That is what the report said. Specifically, times of chaos and confusion. Because of his Dr. Kay’s team discovered what the report leadership, his knowledge, and his experi- calls, and I quote, ‘‘dozens of WMD-related ence, he was able to stand up a police force program activities and significant amounts of in Baghdad in a very quick period of time. equipment that Iraq concealed from the

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