- WASHINGTON - President Bush
Monday hailed the arrest of the alleged planner of the Sept. 11 attacks
as a significant step in the war against terrorism and cited it as vindication
of his approach to that war.
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- In an interview in the White House with Copley News Service
and several other news organizations, the president also sent an unmistakable
signal to the Mexican government that he expects them to support the U.S.
position on Iraq in an upcoming key vote in the United Nations, speaking
of possible "discipline" if they don't.
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- And, only a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong II
warned that nuclear war could break out if the United States attacks his
country's nuclear program, Bush acknowledged that military options "are
on the table" in dealing with the increasingly tense standoff on the
divided peninsula.
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- Grim while discussing Iraq and North Korea, the president
was clearly delighted by the arrest early Saturday of Khalid Shaikh Mohammed,
the operations planner of al-Qaida and the man pegged by U.S. intelligence
as the planner of the Sept. 11 attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.
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- "We made a significant arrest over the weekend,"
Bush volunteered in his first public reaction. "The Pakistan government
did fantastic work to haul in Khalid Shaikh Mohammed."
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- The arrest came at a time when critics were suggesting
the president's focus on Iraq was hindering the war against terrorists.
But Bush said it affirmed what he has been saying all along about how the
war will proceed.
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- "I told the American people this is a different
kind of war against al-Qaida, that we're just going to have to hunt them
down one at a time," he said.
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- "And over the weekend, they saw what I meant. We
will continue to hunt them down one at a time ... and will do so until
al-Qaida is completely dismantled," he said.
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- On Iraq, the president was unyielding in his determination
to force the disarmament of Saddam Hussein, budging not an inch from his
condemnations of the Iraqi leader as a tyrant, dictator and bully.
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- And on Korea, he was cautious even though willing to
talk about a military option.
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- When asked about tensions there, Bush initially replied,
"I believe we can deal with this issue diplomatically by convincing
China and Russia and South Korea to join us in convincing North Korea that
it is not in their nation's interest to be threatening the United States."
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- But when asked if a diplomatic approach had been successful,
the president replied carefully, "It's in process."
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- Reflecting the growing tensions, the president added,
"If they don't work diplomatically, they'll have to work militarily.
And (the) military option is our last choice. Options are on the table,
but I believe we can deal with this diplomatically. I truly do."
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- The president alternated between humor, determination,
sarcasm and reflection throughout the 36-minute session held in the Roosevelt
Room, pointedly opening the interview by calling attention to President
Theodore Roosevelt's Nobel Peace Prize on the mantel over a crackling fire.
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- The prize, he said, "is an interesting tribute to
a president who had a vision about how to keep the peace and was willing
to take risks to achieve peace."
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- On Iraq and the war against terror, Bush cast himself
in a similar light, acknowledging but dismissing the worldwide protests
recently made against America's seemingly inexorable march toward war against
Iraq.
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- "If they tried to do that in Iraq they'd have their
tongues cut out," he said of American protesters, adding, "I
haven't seen many protests on behalf of the Iraqi people who suffer and
are tortured. This guy is a cold-blooded ... dictator."
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- But he insisted that he has paid attention to the protesters.
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- "Of course, I care what they believe. And I've listened
carefully. I've thought long and hard about what needs to be done,"
he said. "And obviously some people in Northern California do not
see there's a true risk to the United States posed by Saddam Hussein. And
we just have a difference of opinion."
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- Asked about protests overseas, the president initially
downplayed the extent of the problems he has encountered with normally
friendly nations.
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- "There are two nations in Europe - France and Germany
- who do not see Saddam Hussein as a direct threat. And we just have a
difference of opinion. But there are a lot of other nations who do,"
he said.
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- But pressed, the president acknowledged that sympathy
for America has diminished since the days immediately after Sept. 11, 2001.
He blamed some of the protests on lingering unhappiness over his early
decisions against international agreements on global warming and an international
criminal court.
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- "So, yes, I see the protests and I know they're
large at times. But I'm not so sure I'd jump to the conclusion that everybody
in those parts of the world are anti-American," he said.
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- Closer to home, the president seemed concerned at the
debate under way in Mexico. The president badly wants the support of Mexico
because it holds a seat on the United Nations Security Council and is one
of six countries there whose support is critical in an upcoming showdown
over a second resolution permitting the use of force to disarm Iraq.
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- "We'll be disappointed if people don't support us,"
he said pointedly.
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- With the Mexican press full of a debate over the ramifications
of a vote against the resolution, Bush added, "But, nevertheless,
I don't expect for there to be significant retribution from the government."
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- His emphasis was on the word "government,"
raising the possibility of adverse reaction to Mexico from the American
business community and average citizens.
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- Making that point, he cited what he called "an interesting
phenomena taking place here in America about the French."
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- With many Americans unhappy at French resistance to a
war in Iraq, the president said there has developed "a backlash against
the French, not stirred up by anybody except by the people."
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- If Mexico - or other countries - oppose the United States,
he said that "there will be a certain sense of discipline." But
he quickly added, "I expect Mexico to be with us."
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- Bush also joked about a comment in Monday's New York
Times suggesting that he "does keep score" when countries like
Mexico buck him. "I wouldn't believe everything you read," he
said with a laugh.
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- On other matters, the president stumped for his economic
stimulus plan, made a pitch for the Medicare reform he will discuss today,
blamed budget deficits on congressional spending and pledged to work to
keep to a minimum any casualties in a war against Iraq.
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- He described himself as fully at peace with the decisions
he has made that have the nation on the brink of combat.
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- "I'm sleeping well at night. I am sustained by the
prayers of the people," he said. "People walk up to me all the
time and say, 'I pray for you and your family, Mr. President,' for which
I am most grateful."
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- He said he also is sustained by his own prayers, noting,
"I'm reading the Bible every day."
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- He added, "This is a difficult decision for any
president to make. I've thought about the consequence of doing nothing.
I've thought about the consequences of military action."
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- But he said the blame for any war falls on Hussein for
his failure to abide by 12 years of U.N. demands for disarmament.
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- The president also insisted that his policies on Iraq
are based solely on what is good for the United States. He bristled slightly
at a question suggesting he was motivated by Hussein's past attempt to
assassinate his father, former President George H.W. Bush, and current
first lady Laura Bush in the early 1990s.
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- "The fact that he tried to kill my father and my
wife shows the nature of the man ... he's cold-blooded. He's a dictator.
He's a tyrant," said Bush. "And the decision I'm making, and
have made, to disarm Saddam Hussein is based upon the security of the American
people."
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- Asked if he harbored personal anger toward Hussein, he
replied, "No. I'm doing my job as the president based upon the threats
that face this country."
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- Copyright ©2003 The Times Reporter
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