Auto-SummaryPresident Bush discusses various topics in an interview with Tim Russert, including the Intelligence Commission report, the CIA's leadership under George Tenet, the 9/11 Commission, Osama bin Laden, the lack of WMDs in Iraq, nation-building efforts, the war's necessity, economic record, tax cuts, Iraq as a war of necessity, the comparison to John Kerry, Yale's Skull and Bones society, and his preparedness for potential election loss.
yeah yeah so you love the man
unfortunately the presidency doesn't run on love
there are some other qualifications for being president
did you happen to catch him on MEET THE PRESS yesterday?
not that any of this will change your mind but here are some
highlights: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4209295/
full transcript: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/4179618/
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Intelligence Commission:
Tim Russert: Prime Minister Blair has set up a similar commission in Great Britain.
President Bush: Yeah.
Russert: His is going to report back in July. Ours is not going to be until March of 2005, five months after the presidential election.
President Bush: Yeah.
Russert: Shouldn't the American people have the benefit of the commission before the election?
President Bush: Well, the reason why we gave it time is because we didn't want it to be hurried. This is a strategic look, kind of a big-picture look about the intelligence-gathering capacities of the United States of America, whether it be the capacity to gather intelligence in North Korea or how we've used our intelligence to, for example, learn more information about A.Q. Kahn. And it's important that this investigation take its time.
Now, look, we are in a political season. I fully understand people-He's trying to avoid responsibility. There is going to be ample time for the American people to assess whether or not I made a--good calls, whether or not I used good judgment, whether or not I made the right decision in removing Saddam Hussein from power, and I look forward to that debate ?
Russert: Will you testify before the commission?
President Bush: This commission? You know, I don't--testify? I will be glad to visit with them. I will be glad to share with them knowledge. I will be glad to make recommendations, if they ask for some.
On the Director of the CIA George Tenet:
President Bush: ? I strongly believe the CIA is ably led by George Tenet. ?
Russert: His job is not in jeopardy?
President Bush: No, not at all, not at all.
On the 9/11 Commission:
Tim Russert: Would you submit for questioning, though, to the 9/11 Commission?
President Bush: Perhaps, perhaps.
On Osama bin Laden:
Tim Russert: Senator Charles Grassley, a Republican ? said he is absolutely convinced we will capture Osama bin Laden before the election.
President Bush: Well, I appreciate his optimism. I have no idea whether we will capture or bring him to justice, may be the best way to put it. I know we are on the hunt ?
Russert: Do you have a pretty good idea where Osama is?
President Bush: You know, I'm not going to comment on that.
On not finding Weapons of Mass Destruction:
Tim Russert: The night you took the country to war, March 17th, you said this: "Intelligence gathered by this and other governments leaves no doubt that the Iraq regime continues to possess and conceal some of the most lethal weapons ever devised."
President Bush: Right.
Russert: That apparently is not the case.
President Bush: Correct.
Russert: How do you respond to critics who say that you brought the nation to war under false pretenses?
President Bush: The ? first of all, I expected to find the weapons. Sitting behind this desk making a very difficult decision of war and peace, and I based my decision on the best intelligence possible, intelligence that had been gathered over the years, intelligence that not only our analysts thought was valid but analysts from other countries thought were valid.
On Nation-Building:
Tim Russert: You do seem to have changed your mind from the 2000 campaign. In a debate, you said, "I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called 'nation-building.'"
President Bush: Yes.
Russert: We clearly are involved in nation-building.
President Bush: Right. And I also said--let me put it in context. I'm not suggesting you're pulling one of these Washington tricks where you leave half the equation out. But I do say also that our troops must be trained and prepared to fight and win war and, therefore, make peace more possible. And our troops were trained to fight and win war, and we did, and a second phase of the war is now going on. The first phase, of course, was the Tommy Franks troop movement.
Russert: But this is nation-building?
President Bush: Well, it is. That?s right, but we're also fighting a war so that they can build a nation.
On the Death and Injury Toll in Iraq:
Tim Russert: Now looking back, in your mind, is it worth the loss of 530 American lives and 3,000 injuries and woundings simply to remove Saddam Hussein, even though there were no weapons of mass destruction?
President Bush: Every life is precious. Every person that is willing to sacrifice for this country deserves our praise, and yes. ? It's essential that I explain this properly to the parents of those who lost their lives. Saddam Hussein was dangerous, and I?m not gonna leave him in power and trust a madman. He's a dangerous man. He had the ability to make weapons at the very minimum. For the parents of the soldiers who have fallen who are listening, David Kay, the weapons inspector, came back and said, ?in many ways Iraq was more dangerous than we thought.? It's--we are in a war against these terrorists who will bring great harm to America, and I've asked these young ones to sacrifice for that.
On Iraq as a War of Choice or Necessity:
Tim Russert: In light of not finding the weapons of mass destruction, do you believe the war in Iraq is a war of choice or a war of necessity?
President Bush: I think that's an interesting question. Please elaborate on that a little bit. A war of choice or a war of necessity? It's a war of necessity. In my judgment, we had no choice when we look at the intelligence I looked at that says the man was a threat.
On the Bush-Cheney Economic Record:
Tim Russert: The Bush-Cheney first three years, the unemployment rate has gone up 33 percent, there has been a loss of 2.2 million jobs. We've gone from a $281 billion surplus to a $521 billion deficit. The debt has gone from 5.7 trillion, to $7 trillion -- up 23 percent. Based on that record, why should the American people rehire you as CEO?
President Bush: Sure, because I have been the President during a time of tremendous stress on our economy and made the decisions necessary to lead--that would enhance recovery. ? what the people must understand is that instead of wondering what to do, I acted, and I acted by cutting the taxes on individuals and small businesses, primarily. And that, itself, has led to this recovery.
On Future Tax Cuts:
Tim Russert: Every president since the Civil War who has gone to war has raised taxes, not cut them. ?Why not say, I will not cut taxes anymore until we have balanced the budget? If our situation is so precious and delicate because of the war, why do you keep cutting taxes and draining money from the treasury?
President Bush: Well, because I believe that the best way to stimulate economic growth is to let people keep more of their own money. And I believe if you raise taxes as the economy is beginning to recover from really tough times, you will slow down the economic growth. You will make it harder.
On Uniter vs. Divider:
Tim Russert: This is Time magazine: "Love him or Hate him: Why George Bush arouses such passion and what it means for the country." ? Why do you think you are perceived as such a divider?
President Bush: Gosh, I don't know, because I'm working hard to unite the country. As a matter of fact, it's the hardest part of being a president. I was successful as the Governor of Texas for bringing people together for the common good, and I must tell you it's tough here in Washington, and frankly it's the biggest disappointment that I've had so far since coming to Washington. I'm not blaming anybody. It's just the environment here is such that it's difficult to find common ground.
On Sen. John Kerry:
Tim Russert: You're trailing John Kerry in both U.S.A. Today and Newsweek polls by seven and five points.
President Bush: Yeah.
Russert: This is what John Kerry had to say last year. He said that his colleagues are appalled at the quote ?President's lack of knowledge. They've managed him the same way they've managed Ronald Reagan. They send him out to the press for one event a day. They put him in a brown jacket and jeans and got him to move some hay or move a truck, and all of a sudden he's the Marlboro Man. I know this guy. He was two years behind me at Yale. I knew him, and he's still the same guy.? Did you know him at Yale?
President Bush: No.
Russert: How do you respond to that?
President Bush: Politics. I mean, this is--if you close your eyes and listen carefully to what you just said, it sounds like the year 2000 all over again.
On Yale?s Skull and Bones Society:
Tim Russert: You were both in Skull and Bones, the secret society.
President Bush: It's so secret we can't talk about it.
Russert: What does that mean for America? The conspiracy theorists are going to go wild.
President Bush: I'm sure they are.
On Losing the Election:
Tim Russert: Are you prepared to lose?
President Bush: No, I'm not going to lose.
Russert: If you did, what would you do?
President Bush: Well, I don't plan on losing.
On the Biggest Issues in the Campaign:
Tim Russert: Biggest issues in the upcoming campaign?
President Bush: Who can properly use American power in a way to make the world a better place, and who understands that the true strength of this country is the hearts and souls of the American citizens, who understands times are changing and how best to have policy reflect those times. ? I have shown the American people I can lead. I have shown the American people I can sit here in the Oval Office when times are tough and be steady and make good decisions.
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