For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
May 5, 2004
President Bush Meets with Al Arabiya Television on Wednesday
Interview of the President by Al Arabiya Television
The Map Room
10:33 A.M. EDT
Q Mr. President, thank you for giving us this chance here in
Al Arabiya. Regarding the alleged abuse of Iraqi prisoners, six U.S.
soldiers are being reprimanded. Do you think that's enough?
THE PRESIDENT: First, I want to tell the people of the Middle East
that the practices that took place in that prison are abhorrent and
they don't represent America. They represent the actions of a few
people. Secondly, it's important for people to understand that in a
democracy that there will be a full investigation. In other words, we
want to know the truth.
In our country, when there's an allegation of abuse -- more than an
allegation in this case, actual abuse, we saw the pictures -- there
will be a full investigation and justice will be delivered. We have a
presumption of innocent until you're guilty in our system, but the
system will be transparent, it will be open and people will see the
results. This is a serious matter. It's a matter that reflects badly
on my country. Our citizens in America are appalled by what they saw,
just like people in the Middle East are appalled. We share the same
deep concerns. And we will find the truth, we will fully investigate.
The world will see the investigation and justice will be served.
Q And you just -- you've said this is reflected badly here,
in the United States of America. How do you think this will be
perceived in the Middle East?
THE PRESIDENT: Terrible. I think people in the Middle East who
want to dislike America will use this as an excuse to remind people
about their dislike. I think the average citizen will say, this isn't
a country that I've been told about. We're a great country because
we're a free country, and we do not tolerate these kind of abuses.
The people of the Middle East must be assured that we will
investigate fully, that we will find out the truth. They will know the
truth, just like the American citizens will know the truth, and justice
will be served.
Secondly, it's very important for the people of the Middle East to
realize that the troops we have overseas are decent, honorable citizens
who care about freedom and peace; that are working daily in Iraq to
improve the lives of the Iraqi citizens, and these actions of a few
people do not reflect the nature of the men and women who serve our
country.
Q After these pictures came out, some people in the area
started talking about another alleged abuse. Could you tell us about
what's being done to prevent this from happening and just to improve
the situation?
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely. I have told our Secretary of Defense,
and I have instructed him to tell everybody else in the military, I
want to know the full extent of the operations in Iraq, the prison
operations. We want to make sure that if there is a systemic problem
-- in other words, if there's a problem system-wide -- that we stop the
practices.
Again, it's very important for people, your listeners, to
understand, in our country that when an issue is brought to our
attention on this magnitude, we act -- and we act in a way where
leaders are willing to discuss it with the media. And we act in a way
where, you know, our Congress asks pointed questions to the
leadership. In other words, people want to know the truth. That
stands in contrast to dictatorships. A dictator wouldn't be answering
questions about this. A dictator wouldn't be saying that the system
will be investigated and the world will see the results of the
investigation. A dictator wouldn't admit reforms needed to be done.
And so the people in the Middle East must understand that this was
horrible. But we're dealing with it in a way that will bring
confidence to not only our citizens, which is very important, but
confidence to people of the world that this situation will be rectified
and justice will be done.
Q We are going to Fallujah -- the way the situation is being
resolved, is being considered in some parts of Iraq as a defeat to
U.S. How do you address that, or do you have anything to address --
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, of course. The strategy in Fallujah is to
empower Iraqis to step up and take control of the security situation;
that we're on our way to the transfer of sovereignty. And people who
feel like that they can wreak havoc on innocent Iraqis will be brought
to justice in Iraq, either by Iraqi citizens and/or by coalition
forces.
And we're making progress. There are a few people there in Iraq
that want to claim credit for any situation on the ground, but the
people in Fallujah are tired of foreign fighters and radicals and
extremists preventing them from living a normal life. And those who
remain in Fallujah will be taken care of. And the Iraqi forces that
have been stood up are now in the process of patrolling the streets and
bringing law and order to the streets.
Q June the 30th is approaching. How do you think -- still
Mr. Sadr in defense with U.S., how do you think this person should be
dealt with?
THE PRESIDENT: I think he ought to be dealt with by the Iraqi
citizens who are getting tired of him occupying the holiest of holy
sites. And we are very respectful for the holy sites in Iraq, we
understand their importance to the Iraqi citizens. Mr. Sadr is
occupying those sites as if they're his, and I think the Iraqi citizens
are getting tired of that.
We will deal with his militias, as will the Iraqi forces deal with
these militias. Militias are people who are willing to kill,
intimidate and try to take matters into their own hands, which is not
the way democracy functions. Free societies do not allow thugs to roam
streets and hold people hostage to their whims. The Iraqis will deal
with Mr. Sadr.
Q June the 30th, do you think your administration is really
prepared right now to have a very, very nice day -- in that day to give
the power to Iraqis?
THE PRESIDENT: Absolutely we're prepared to do so. When we say
we're going to do something, we're going to do it. As you know, the
United Nations, the coalition, as well as Iraqi citizens are preparing
the entity to which sovereignty will be passed. There will still be a
lot of hard work to do, and we want to help.
The Iraqi citizens must understand America is not going to leave
until the job is complete. We want to help Iraq. We've made a
commitment. And the United States will keep that commitment because we
believe in freedom and we believe the people of Iraq want to be free.
We believe they want to raise their children in a peaceful world. We
believe they want to educate their children in good schools. We want
to -- we believe they want to realize their own personal ambitions. If
they're a businessman or a businesswoman, they want to build their own
business in peace. That's what we believe.
And, therefore, we stand side-by-side with the people of Iraq who
are peaceful. And there's a lot of peaceful people that look for a
better day. I'm very proud of the brave Iraqis who've stood up, and
I'm very proud of our own men and women in uniform who are helping Iraq
to become free.
Q Mr. President, critics are saying that by your action in
Iraq actually invited al Qaeda and other terrorists to do business with
you over there. Could you address that?
THE PRESIDENT: Sure. Do you remember September the 11th, 2001?
Al Qaeda attacked the United States. They killed thousands of our
citizens. I will never forget what they have done to us. They
declared war on us. And the United States will pursue them. And so
long as I'm the President, we will be determined, steadfast, and strong
as we pursue those people who kill innocent lives because they hate
freedom.
And, of course, al Qaeda looks for any excuse. But the truth of
the matter is, they hate us, and they hate freedom, and they hate
people who embrace freedom. And they're willing to kill innocent
Iraqis because Iraqis are willing to be free. Iraqis are sick of
foreign people coming in their country and trying to destabilize their
country. And we will help them rid Iraq of these killers.
Q Mr. President, you went to Iraq as a part of your project
in the Middle East, and flourish democracy over there. To which extent
you are willing to go further to flourish a democracy? Are we going to
see in the future more action against some other countries to flourish
democracy over there, like Syria?
THE PRESIDENT: No, I think it's -- first of all, you've got to
understand, sir, that military options are always my last option, not
the first option, and that we can promote freedom without use of
military. There are ways to stand with reformers and encourage reform
and hold up examples of where societies are more stable and more free
as a result of democracy and freedom.
Secondly, it's very important for the people of the Middle East to
understand that freedom doesn't have to look like America. A free
society doesn't have to look like an American society. Free societies
will develop according to the cultures of the people in the regions and
the Middle East. And reform and freedom take time. I understand
that. It takes time for a free society to emerge. And so America can
affect freedom in different kinds of ways.
But inherent in your question was, you know, am I anxious to use
military power? Iraq was a unique situation because Saddam Hussein had
constantly defied the world and had threatened his neighbors, had used
weapons of mass destruction, had terrorist ties, had torture chambers
inside his country, had mass graves. It was a very unique situation.
And he was given a chance to meet the demands of the free world in a
peaceful way, but he chose -- he chose war.
We can make progress with freedom and peace because I believe deep
in the heart and soul of every human being is a desire to be free. And
America will continue to speak to those aspirations.
Q My last question, Mr. President. You gave assurance to
Sharon government. From Al Arabiya, in these last questions, what kind
of assurance are you going to give to Palestinian today?
THE PRESIDENT: I stood up in front of the world and said that the
Palestinian people ought to have their own state. I'm the first
President to have ever said that. And my assurance is, is that I have
not changed my vision of two states living side-by-side in peace. And
that -- Prime Minister Sharon made a decision to withdraw from the Gaza
and from settlements on the West Bank, which I thought was a very
strong decision and an important decision, because it now gives us a
chance to move in and to say to the Palestinians, here's your chance to
build a state, to put the institutions in place for a state to emerge,
that speaks to the aspirations and hopes of the Palestinian people,
that is a peaceful state.
And we want to help. And that's why yesterday you saw a statement
coming out of the Quartet, which is a part of the road map -- the road
map process that says, let's work together to give the Palestinians
hope. And my commitment to the Palestinian people is, when peaceful
leaders emerge, when people are willing to fight off terror, they will
have a great opportunity to see this state emerge. And America will
help.
Q Mr. President, thank you so much for discussing. Enjoy
your day. It's sunny, so I hope you have a good day.
THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, sir. It is a sunny day.
Q Thank you.
END 10:44 A.M. EDT
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