President Bush Discusses Iraq
Remarks by President Bush and Polish President Kwasniewski in Photo Opportunity
The Oval Office
11:28 A.M. EST
PRESIDENT BUSH: What we're going to do here is have a couple of
opening statements; two questions from the American press, two
questions from the Polish press.
Let me first start by saying how much I'm honored that my friend,
the President of Poland, is back in Washington. We're thrilled you're
here. My only regret is that you didn't bring your beautiful wife with
you, the First Lady of Poland.
But we're here to have a substantive talk on a lot of issues,
issues ranging from the war on terror to the recent decision by the
Polish government on the purchase of U.S.-made aircraft, to how best to
implement that decision, to let the Polish people benefit so the
decision is not only good for the defense ministry of Poland, but it's
good for the people of Poland.
And the President cares deeply about the people of Poland and we'll
have a good discussion along those lines. I've got no better friend in
Europe today than Poland. One of the reasons why is because this man
has made a commitment to work together, as equal partners, in the war
on terror, on the desire to lift the -- find freedom for people who
live in misery.
And so Mr. President, we're so glad you're back, and welcome back
to the Oval Office.
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Thank you.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I appreciate you.
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: Mr. President, dear friends, so after very
short time -- because I paid official visit to the United States July
last year -- I am again in Oval Office, in White House in
Washington, and I think this is a good sign that our cooperation, our
relations are very active and very friendly.
Now we'll have consultations, we will discuss all the problems
concerning war against terror, at the national situation. And I think
today is the best time to discuss, because before action, before last
decisions it's necessary to exchange opinions, of experiences, of some
ideas. And that is very substantial element of my trip to Washington
now.
Second, what President Bush mentioned, Poland decided to have your
fighter F-16. It was very transparent, very open and very well
prepared tender, and I think we have a chance not only to have good
place for Polish army, not only to have a good contribution to our NATO
membership -- but we have a chance to open new chapter in the
economic relations between Poland and United States, and this is the
next reason of my visit and of our discussion.
America has unique chance to accelerate economic activities,
investment activities in Poland. We are open, we are prepared, we have
good practice, we have specialists. And what is my satisfaction,
America wants to do it. That's what is good news, good message for all
of us here in the United States and Poland, as well.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Fournier.
Q Thank you, sir. Jack Kelly has very publicly promised North
Korea energy aid in exchange for Pyongyang giving up its nuclear
program. Isn't that rewarding North Korea for bad behavior --
something you promised never to do?
PRESIDENT BUSH: First of all, there's a big concern here in our
country about North Korea and I'm absolutely convinced this issue will
be solved in a peaceful way. I want to remind the American people that
prior to North Korea making the decision it made, that I had instructed
our Secretary of State to approach North Korea about a bold initiative,
an initiative which would talk about energy and food, because we care
deeply about the suffering of the North Korean people.
And then the North Koreans made a decision. And the decision they
made was to ignore international norm, ignore treaties that they had
-- agreements that they had reached, and start building potential
nuclear weapons, enriching uranium. And now they have expelled --
are in the process of kicking out IEAE [sic] people.
I view this as an opportunity to bind together nations in the
neighborhood and around the world to make it clear to the North Koreans
that we expect this issue to be resolved peacefully, and we expect them
to disarm. We expect them not to develop nuclear weapons. And if they
so choose to do so -- their choice -- then I will reconsider
whether or not we will start the bold initiative that I talked to
Secretary Powell about.
People say, well, are you willing to talk to North Korea? Of
course we are. But what this nation won't do is be blackmailed. And
what this nation will do is use this as an opportunity to bring the
Chinese and the Russians and South Koreans and the Japanese to the
table to solve this problem peacefully.
PRESIDENT KWASNIEWSKI: I agree. I think in the Korean case
absolutely not to compare with Iraq's case. And we have a chance to
discuss about North Korea with very serious partners which are thinking
the same way. I mean, Japan, Russia, China, South Korea. We have a
chance to propose something very positive to North Korea, maybe not for
regime -- because when I read some information about this regime, it's
not so easy to propose something -- something special. But
absolutely. I am sure that we have enough possibilities to propose
positive solution for this case, but with all international partners.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Would you care to call on somebody from Poland,
Polish press?
Q Can the war of terror be decisively won? This is a question
for both Presidents. And what would be Poland's role in the war of
terror -- on terror?
PRESIDENT BUSH: Let me start. You bet the war on terror can be
won. And not only can it be won, we're going to win it. And the way
you win it is you work together. You share intelligence, you
complement each other's efforts. If we find somebody thinking about
doing something to our friends in Poland, we'll share the information
with this government, and vice versa. We will work together to cut off
money. And we will hunt the killers down one at a time. And that's
exactly what we are doing and exactly what we are going to do.
We're going to find them. They think they can hide in a cave in
the outer reaches of Afghanistan, we will go in the cave and find
them. And one by one, we are dismantling this terrorist network. It
requires a lot of communication, it requires a lot of cooperation, and
it requires a lot of patience. And this government has got all three.
Q Mr. President, there are 10 million of the Polish Americans
in the United States. What is your perception about the Polish
Americans?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think that one of the greatest contributions to
Poland to our country is Polish Americans: people who are
enterprising, hardworking, God-fearing, family-loving people. One of
the great strengths of our country is our diversity, and part of our
diversity is the fact that a lot of our citizens were born in Poland
and/or their fathers and mothers were born in Poland or their
grandparents were born in Poland. Truly, one of the great blessings
and gifts from Poland to this country is the Polish heritage.
Scott.
Q Sir. Mr. President, the U.N. weapons inspectors say they
need until --
PRESIDENT BUSH: Is it Steve or Scott?
Q The weapons inspectors say they need until March, maybe six
months, maybe a year. Is this what you had in mind when you went to
the U.N. back in September?
PRESIDENT BUSH: What I have in mind for Saddam Hussein is to
disarm. The United Nations spoke with one voice. We said, we expect
Saddam Hussein, for the sake of peace, to disarm. That's the
question: Is Saddam Hussein disarming? He's been given 11 years to
disarm. And so the world came together and we have given him one last
chance to disarm. So far, I haven't seen any evidence that he is
disarming.
Time is running out on Saddam Hussein. He must disarm. I'm sick
and tired of games and deception. And that's my view of timetables.