President Bush Discusses War on Terrorism with Tunisian President
11:32 A.M. EST
PRESIDENT BUSH: A couple statements, and I'm going to answer a
couple of questions afterwards. Mr. President, welcome. I'm glad
you're here in the Oval Office. Thank you for your friendship. I'm
looking forward to a good discussion.
I want to thank you for working with the United States in the war
on terror. I want to thank you for your understanding of the need for
Iraq to be democratic and free. I appreciate the fact that you've got
an education system that is modern and viable; that women in your
country are given equal rights.
I look forward to talking to you about the need to have a press
corps that is vibrant and free, as well as an open political process.
There's a lot we can talk about. Tunisia can help lead the greater
Middle East to reform and freedom, something that I know is necessary
for peace for the long-term.
So welcome.
PRESIDENT BEN ALI: Mr. President, thank you for very much for this
opportunity. I am delighted to be here in the United States, and thank
you very much for your generous invitation.
As you know, the Tunisian-U.S. relationships have been always
unique and ancient; they go back for two centuries. Mr. President, we
also look forward to increasing and cementing those relationships
between the two countries in all spheres and every area, in order to
continue to support the friendship between the two peoples and between
the two countries.
We share principles together, Mr. President, and that is the
establishment of states on the basis of democracy, human rights and
combating terror. We believe that Tunisia is an ally of the United
States and the relationships between the two countries has strategic
dimension.
And I would like to take this opportunity to thank the friendly
American people who stood by us during our liberation and after our
independence. Thank you very much.
PRESIDENT BUSH: A couple of questions. Scott.
Q Thanks, Mr. President. More than 3,000 same-sex couples have
taken vows since San Francisco started issuing marriage licenses to
gays and lesbians. This Massachusetts court ruling could result in the
first legally recognized gay marriages in May. Do these developments
make you any more inclined to endorse a constitutional amendment
banning gay marriage?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I strongly believe that marriage should be defined
as between a man and a woman. I am troubled by activist judges who are
defining marriage. I have watched carefully what's happened in San
Francisco, where licenses were being issued even though the law states
otherwise. I have consistently stated that if -- I'll support law to
protect marriage between a man and a woman. And obviously these events
are influencing my decision.
Q Are you close to a decision?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm watching very carefully. But I'm troubled by
what I've seen. People need to be involved with this decision.
Marriage ought to be defined by the people, not by the courts. And I'm
watching it carefully.
Stevie.
Q Mr. President, do you think the economy is strong enough to
produce 2.6 million jobs this year, as your economic report projected?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I think the economy is growing. And I think it's
going to get stronger. I do think there are some things we need to
do. We need to make sure the tax cuts are permanent. I look forward
to continuing to talk about this issue. Uncertainty in the tax code
could affect small business planning. Uncertainty in the tax code will
make it harder for our citizens to make rational decisions about
spending money. We need to have an energy policy, open up markets for
trade, we need less regulation. We need tort reform. There are things
we can do to make sure the economy grows.
I'm pleased by the fact that since August there's been 366,000 new
jobs, in one survey. There was another survey called the Household
Account that's been more optimistic. But I'm mindful there are still
people looking for work, and we've got to continue building on the
progress we've made so far.