Mar. 3 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

us on our own soil. Stopping them is the Mike understands that we need to work greatest challenge of our day. And under closely with State and local officials because Mike’s leadership, we will do everything in he has shared their vantage point. Like our power to meet that challenge. Mike men and women who wear our Nation’s is wise, and he is tough—in a good way. uniform on distant battlefields, those who [Laughter] And he knows the nature of the wear the uniform here at home risk their enemy. As head of the Criminal Division lives every day to protect our people. By at the Department of Justice, Mike helped their service and sacrifice, our police, our trace the September 11th attacks to the firefighters, and emergency rescue per- Al Qaida network. And it didn’t take him sonnel are making the homeland safer. And very long to do so. He understands that our Nation must constantly thank them for the terrorists are brutal and determined their work. and that to stop them, all our agencies Mike is the right person to lead this De- must work more closely together using partment in this vital work. He knows that every resource and technological advantage to win the war on terror abroad, we always we have. must remember where it began, here in I have given Mike an ambitious agenda the homeland. He will be an outstanding to carry out. We will continue to work to Secretary of Homeland Security. Mike, fully integrate the agencies within the thank you for willing—for your willingness Homeland Security Department. We will to serve our Nation once again. God bless. build on the progress that has been made. We will continue working to reduce our NOTE: The President spoke at 9:25 a.m. at Nation’s vulnerabilities and prepare effec- the Ronald Reagan Building and Inter- tive responses for any future attack. We national Trade Center. In his remarks, he re- will speed the development of new 21st ferred to Meryl Chertoff, wife of Secretary century vaccines and treatments to protect Chertoff; Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Americans against biological, chemical, nu- Qaida terrorist organization; senior Al Qaida clear, and radiological attacks. We will con- associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; and the Na- tinue our historic investments in homeland tional Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon security to match the threats facing our the (9/11 Commission). The country. We will protect the American peo- transcript released by the Office of the Press ple from new dangers while protecting their Secretary also included the remarks of Sec- civil liberties. retary Chertoff.

Remarks at the Central Intelligence Agency and an Exchange With Reporters in Langley, March 3, 2005

The President. I want to thank Director security of the United States and that, to- Goss for his hospitality. It was such a pleas- gether, we’ve achieved a lot in securing ure to come out and see hundreds of folks this country. There’s a lot of really incred- who work here at the Central Intelligence ibly bright, capable, hard-working, dedi- Agency. cated Americans who work in this building. I came for a couple of reasons. One, So my first mission was to thank them. I wanted to assure the people here that And the second thing was to explain that their contribution was incredibly vital to the the reforms that we’ll be implementing

352

31 2005 13:57 Sep 09 2008 Jkt 206694 PO 00000 Frm 00352 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\94A XXX 94A Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Mar. 3

through the good graces of Ambassador ligence community. But there’s a lot of Negroponte, if confirmed by the Senate, other intelligence gathering operations will actually help the CIA do its job better. around Government. And the job of Am- And I got a great reception. I want to bassador Negroponte is to be—to take the thank you, again, Director, for your hospi- information and make sure it is coordinated tality. We’re making progress in the war in its distribution to not only the White on terror. The world is changing. And this House but to key players in my administra- country of ours will continue to do our tion. And so I’m confident that the process duty, which is to find terrorists, bring them will work. to justice through good intelligence and Obviously, one of the reasons I came hard work and some brave souls, and at here is because I know there’s some uncer- the same time, work to spread freedom tainty about what this reform means to the and liberty around the world. people of the CIA, and I wanted to assure I’ll answer a couple of questions. Tom them that the reforms will strengthen their [Tom Raum, Associated Press]. efforts and make it easier for them to do Implementing Intelligence Reform their job, not harder. I’m glad I came out. Terry [Terry Moran, ABC News]. Q. Mr. President, your CIA Director, Mr. Goss, said yesterday that he has to Social Security Reform wear five hats now and that he was con- Q. Mr. President, on Social Security re- cerned there were some ambiguities in the form, what’s your judgment about where new arrangement about his relationship this process stands right now, with polls with Mr. Negroponte and Secretary Rums- showing the public skeptical; some Repub- feld. Do you feel there are such ambigu- licans, like Senator Grassley, are seeming ities, and will you move to—if there are, to back away from your proposal; and will you move to clear them up? And will Democrats wanting to declare it dead. this prevent—will this present a problem The President. I would say this: I am— for the flow of intelligence in this time, know we’re at the early stages of the proc- this transition period? ess. I’ve only had nine trips around the The President. That’s an excellent ques- country so far—or nine States on my trips. tion. Porter and I have discussed this, of I’ve got a lot more work to do. Now, I course, because I don’t want there to be do believe we’re making progress on the any interruption of intelligence coming to first stage of getting anything complicated the White House, and there won’t be. As and difficult done in Washington, and that a matter of fact, Porter Goss comes every is to explain the problem. And the surveys morning with the CIA briefer to deliver I have seen, at least, say that the American the briefing. And that, of course, will go people understand we have a problem. And on. And it’s—secondly, we don’t even have I’m going to continue going out to explain Ambassador Negroponte confirmed yet. In that to people, the nature of the problem. other words, it’s hard to implement reforms And the problem is, in 2018, the system without somebody to be the reformer. And starts losing money. In 2027, it’s 200 billion so the process is ongoing. Obviously, when in the hole, and it gets bigger every year his name gets up to the Senate, we hope thereafter. In other words, we can’t pay there’s a speedy confirmation. for the promises we’ve made. That’s the But one of the purposes of the whole problem. process, Tom, is to make sure that informa- And my second phase of this explanation tion flows are smooth and that efforts are to the American people is to say to seniors coordinated. The CIA is the Central Intel- who have retired or people near retirement, ligence Agency; it’s the center of the intel- you don’t have anything to worry about;

353

31 2005 13:57 Sep 09 2008 Jkt 206694 PO 00000 Frm 00353 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\94A XXX 94A Mar. 3 / Administration of George W. Bush, 2005

you’re going to get your check. I’ve got War on Terror a lot of work to do on that, and I under- Q. You mentioned Usama bin Laden ear- stand that. But we’re making progress. Peo- lier this morning, and you’ve said several ple are beginning to say, ‘‘We have a prob- times that there’s progress being made on lem.’’ The next phase, when people say we the war on terrorism. But more than 3 have a problem, is going to be, ‘‘What are years after September 11th, you still don’t you going to do about it?’’ And I’m willing know where he is. How would you assess to put out some ideas about what to do the adequacy of the intelligence you’re get- about it. In my judgment, ultimately, I ting on bin Laden, and do you expect that think politicians need to be worried about he’s going to be found any time soon, even not being a part of the solution. within your second term? And so I’m looking forward to continue The President. If Al Qaida was structured to make the case. As you know, Terry— like corporate America, you’d have a chair- you have followed me a lot—I like to get man of the board still in office, but many out amongst the people. I get energized— of the key operators would no longer be I get energized by being with people, and around. In other words, the executive vice I get energized when I think about taking presidents, the operating officers, the peo- on big problems, because that’s why we ple responsible for certain aspects of the got elected. The American people expect organization have been brought to justice— people to come together to solve problems. a lot of them have been. And we are— And I’m looking forward to listening to Re- spend every day gathering information to publicans and Democrats. I said, ‘‘Put your locate Usama bin Laden and Zawahiri, ob- ideas out there. There will be no political viously people like Zarqawi. We’re not rest- third rail when it comes to Social Security.’’ ing on our laurels. We’ve had great suc- Now is the time for good people of good cesses, and—but that doesn’t mean that we will to come together and get the problem should stop. fixed. And one of the reasons I came out here was to remind people that we’ve had great successes. I appreciate their successes— Tax Reform , Ramzi bin al- Shibh. I can go down the list. But there’s Q. Fed Chairman Alan Greenspan said more work to be done. And it’s a matter today that a consumption tax, maybe even of time. As far as I’m concerned and as a national sales tax, might spur greater eco- far as the CIA is concerned, it’s a matter nomic growth. What do you think about of time before we bring these people to that? justice. And I can’t thank the intelligence The President. I think that I’m going to gatherers, the analysts, and the operators— wait until the tax commission I put to- I can’t thank them enough for the sacrifices gether, the reform commission headed by they’re making. former Senator John Breaux, Democrat of Last question. Louisiana, former Senator Connie Mack, Republican of , comes forward with Iran/Syria some ideas. I told the American people I Q. Mr. President, on Iran, you spoke to want to work to simplify the Tax Code and Condoleezza Rice yesterday, we were told. make it easier to understand, so people are What can you tell us about the pros and spending less time filing paper, and I be- cons that you’re weighing now as you reach lieve a simplified Tax Code will spur entre- a decision on going forward with the EU? preneurial activity. And so I’m looking for- The President. Yes, let me just tell you ward to what the commission has to say. how I see the state of action here. First,

354

31 2005 13:57 Sep 09 2008 Jkt 206694 PO 00000 Frm 00354 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\94A XXX 94A Administration of George W. Bush, 2005 / Mar. 4

I am most appreciative that our friends in talking to Condi about getting an amplifi- agree with the United States that cation on her visit with our allies overseas. Iran should not have a nuclear weapon, I look forward to not only hear their words; period—no ands, ifs, or buts. And I thought I want to hear about their body language. that was a very important statement from I want to hear about their enthusiasm for the leaders I met with. And by the way, the project. I think I’m going to find it Mr. Putin feels the same way. And to me was quite high because the people now un- that is a very—a positive start for achieving derstand that if you believe in democracy, our common objective. First, you got to why not let the democracy in Lebanon agree to the goal, and the goal is no weap- flourish and grow? And the United States on. of America strongly supports democracy all Secondly, I have told our European around the world, including Lebanon. And friends who are handling the negotiations it cannot flourish so long as Syrian troops on behalf of the rest of the world that are there. It’s time for Syria to get out. we want to help make sure the process Listen, thank you all. I appreciate seeing goes forward. And we’re looking at ways you. to help move the process forward. The guilty party is Iran. They’re the ones NOTE: The President spoke at 3:11 p.m. In who are not living up to international ac- his remarks, he referred to John D. cords. They’re the people that the whole Negroponte, nominee to be Director of Na- world is saying, ‘‘Don’t develop a weapon.’’ tional Intelligence; former Senators Connie And so we are working with our friends Mack, Chairman, and John B. Breaux, Vice to make sure not only the world hears that Chairman, President’s Advisory Panel on but that the negotiating strategy achieves Federal Tax Reform; Usama bin Laden, lead- the objective of pointing out where guilt er of the Al Qaida terrorist organization; needs to be as well as achieving the objec- Ayman Al-Zawahiri, founder of the Egyptian tive of no nuclear weapon. And I felt good Islamic Jihad and senior Al Qaida associate; about our visits. senior Al Qaida associate Abu Musab Al I did visit with Condi yesterday, and I’m Zarqawi; Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, senior about to go visit with her again in the Oval Al Qaida leader responsible for planning the Office to discuss not only this issue but September 11, 2001, terrorist attack, who other key issues, including Lebanon, where was captured in on March 1, 2003; the message is loud and clear from the Ramzi bin al-Shibh, an Al Qaida operative United States and France and many other suspected of helping to plan the September nations that Syria must withdraw not only 11, 2001, terrorist attack, who was captured her troops but her secret service forces out in Karachi, Pakistan, on September 11, 2002; of Lebanon now. And I look forward to and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

Remarks on the Nomination of Stephen L. Johnson To Be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency March 4, 2005

The President. Good morning. I am Steve Johnson is a talented scientist and pleased to announce my nomination of Ste- skilled manager with a lifelong commitment phen Johnson to be the Administrator of to environmental stewardship. He has 24 the Environmental Protection Agency. years of experience at the EPA, spanning

355

31 2005 13:57 Sep 09 2008 Jkt 206694 PO 00000 Frm 00355 Fmt 1240 Sfmt 1240 E:\HR\OC\94A XXX 94A