Remarks by the President After Meeting with Economists (Including Iraq)

The White House ^ | 21 January 2003 | President Bush

[PhiKapMom]

Remarks by the President After Meeting with Economists

10:35 A.M. EST

THE PRESIDENT: Let me make a couple comments about the meeting we just had and be glad to answer a couple questions. You can lead it off, Fournier, in a minute.

I want to thank some of our nation's leading economists for coming today to share their thoughts with me about our economy and the strength of our nation, how best to make sure people can find work.

We had a great discussion about the plan that I laid out for the Congress to consider and to enact, a plan which focuses on job creation, a plan which recognizes that money in the consumers' pocket will help grow this economy, a plan that recognizes there are some long-term things we can do to make sure the investor feels comfortable taking risks in America. It is a plan that recognizes that economic growth is not as strong as it should be. It's a plan that's good for all Americans. It is a plan that addresses our needs and it's a plan that Congress needs to pass.

These economists can speak for themselves after they leave, but they have given good advice and sound judgment and for that, I'm grateful.

I'll take a couple of questions. Ron.

Q Sir, last week in this room, you came out against quotas, which have been unconstitutional for 25 years. You didn't answer the central question, and that is whether race can be used as a factor in admissions. Dr. Rice says it could be, Colin Powell says it should be. What is your position? Can it be used as --

THE PRESIDENT: Well, my position is, is that as the -- as the brief says, that there are clearly unconstitutional means to achieve diversity, there are race-neutral ways to achieve diversity which I have put in place as the governor of Texas, and that we'll leave the Court to define the outer limits of the constitution.

Adam.

Q Yes, Mr. President --

Q You won't answer that question then?

THE PRESIDENT: I just answered it.

Q Whether or not you believe --

THE PRESIDENT: No, I answered it. The courts will make the definition of the outer limits of the -- and as Condi Rice said, she felt very comfortable in saying on national TV the decision I made was the right decision.

Adam.

Q Thank you. Thank you, Mr. President. The French are saying they would block a U.N. resolution authorizing force on Iraq. Are you frustrated by these comments? Can you still reach a consensus?

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Adam, first of all, it's important for the American citizens and the citizens around the world to understand that Saddam Hussein possesses some of the world's deadliest weapons. He poses a serious threat to America and our friends and allies. The world came together, including the French, to say he must disarm. He's not disarming. As a matter of fact, it appears to be a rerun of a bad movie. He is delaying, he is deceiving, he is asking for time. He's playing hide-and-seek with inspectors.

One thing is for certain, he's not disarming. So the United States of America, in the name of peace, will continue to insist he does disarm, and we will keep the pressure on Saddam Hussein.

Angle.

Q Mr. President, when do you intend to make a decision about whether or not the inspection process is -- actually has any hope of really disarming Saddam?

THE PRESIDENT: It's clear to me now that he is not disarming. And, surely, our friends have learned lessons from the past. Surely we have learned how this man deceives and delays. He's giving people the run-around. And as many of my advisors said on TV this week, time is running out. I believe in the name of peace he must disarm. And we will lead a coalition of willing nations to disarm him. Make no mistake about that, he will be disarmed.

Q When -- how do you decide when that moment comes that you need to make a judgment?

THE PRESIDENT: I will let you know when the moment has come. (Laughter.)

Q Mr. President, who is in that coalition of the willing now? Are France, Germany out?

THE PRESIDENT: You will find out who is in the coalition of the willing. It is very much like what happened prior to our getting a resolution out of the United Nations. Many of the punditry -- of course, not you -- (laughter) -- but other punditry were quick to say, no one is going to follow the United States of America. And we got a unanimous resolution out of the United Nations.

The United States has made it clear our intention, and our intention is to work with the world for Saddam to disarm. He's been given ample time to disarm. We have had ample time now to see that the tricks of the past -- he's employing the tricks of the past today. He's giving people the run-around. He wants to play hide-and-seek. He's got a vast country.

He wants to focus the attention of the world on inspectors. This is not about inspectors; this is about a disarmed Iraq. He has weapons of mass destruction -- the world's deadliest weapons -- which pose a direct threat to the United States, our citizens and our friends and allies. He has been told to disarm for 11 long years. He's not disarming.

This business about, you know, more time -- you know, how much time do we need to see clearly that he's not disarming? As I said, this looks like a rerun of a bad movie and I'm not interested in watching it.

All right, thank you, all.

END 10:41 A.M. EST

[My2Cents]

I agree with you! The decision has been made.

The UN has already proven it is irrelevant. France is quickly proving they too are irrelevant. Who needs them?

[My2Cents]

Regarding the Italians, I think we need to no longer make jokes like, "How many gears does an Italian tank have? (or a Polish one, for that matter)" As Pres. Bush said back in September 2001, this fight will reveal who are friends are. When all is said and done, the French and the Germans may feel the heat to join the coalition. It's clear the US hasn't played its hand yet. I wouldn't bet against George W. Bush.

[Wolfstar]

Another thing we've been waiting for is to get the Israeli elections out of the way, and the new Israeli government formed. Need stability there before moving.

[PhiKapMom]

I wouldn't bet against him either! France and Germany are going to pay in the end for their stance IMHO!

[Miss Marple]

PhiKapMom, thanks for posting this! I heard this this morning and was laughing out loud at the rerun comment.

If you heard it, it was very strong...no doubt he means business.

And to all of you...I think we should start assembling a list of these quotes...not the speeches, which also should be saved because they are poetic...but these off-the-cuff quotes that actually give the people confidence!

[Marysecretary]

He's had them ever since he became president. I like this guy. He's done more in two years than Clinton and company did in eight years. It's got to be killing the Clintons!

[PhiKapMom]

Good idea! He was very strong in his comments and I loved the way he went to Jim Angle after the other two.

[slimer]

January 26th, Super Bowl Sunday
January 27th, U.N Weapons Inspection Report
January 28th, The State of the Union Address

What a week!!!

[Moonman62]

I wouldn't bet against him either! France and Germany are going to pay in the end for their stance IMHO!

I hope so, but rather than say they have a stance which implies they have a backbone, I'd say they're bending over for the jihadis.

[PhiKapMom]

Bending over works for me! The French have "zero" backbone! Let's just contain Sadaam! They thought that about Hitler too -- appease him and look what happened!

[Edison]

"Sometimes" being the key word here. To bad he can't say in plain words that making allowances for some races is just a bad idea.

Oh wait, my kids are minority kids. Ugh, nevermind, they aren't the right minority. How come no one brings this up on the talking head shows. Why do Asian kids not get this? Even 1st generation Asians don't warrant a helping hand.

AA is the dems appeasment to the masses. "Look we helped these 120 kids from Newark go to college". Too bad about the 12,000 other kids leff out in the cold...


Edison

[MJY1288]

I have every public statement the President has made in public since he was sworn in. Printed and in several 3 ring binders sorted by date. I help my son-in-law with the "Current History" class he teaches. Plus the White House Website has them all as well

[blackie]

Powerful statements, GWB Is The Man!

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

[deport]

THE PRESIDENT: Well, Adam, first of all, it's important for the American citizens and the citizens around the world to understand that Saddam Hussein possesses some of the world's deadliest weapons.

Here's you one for the book but not sure what it means..... Can you explain to me what he meant by "citizens around the world" when he had already mentioned American Citizens. Wouldn't the citizens around the world be citizens of some country? Isn't that a given? Maybe he meant 'people around the world'....

PKM I think it will be March at the earliest due to the need to get all the troops in place and have a readiness shakedown of troops and materiel.. I don't that can be accomplished before then, JMO of course.

Also the Hajj reaches it's peak Feb. 12/13 I think, so that will play some of a decision in the matter, imo.

[cake_crumb]

"...how much time do we need to see clearly that he's not disarming? As I said, this looks like a rerun of a bad movie and I'm not interested in watching it."

Well said Mr. President!! The situation with Saddam is like watching Groundhog Day, every day for the past eleven years.

[MeekOneGOP]

I love it ! Thanks for the post and the ping !

Q Mr. President, when do you intend to make a decision about whether or not the inspection process is -- actually has any hope of really disarming Saddam?

THE PRESIDENT: It's clear to me now that he is not disarming. And, surely, our friends have learned lessons from the past. Surely we have learned how this man deceives and delays. He's giving people the run-around. And as many of my advisors said on TV this week, time is running out. I believe in the name of peace he must disarm. And we will lead a coalition of willing nations to disarm him. Make no mistake about that, he will be disarmed.

Q When -- how do you decide when that moment comes that you need to make a judgment?

THE PRESIDENT: I will let you know when the moment has come. (Laughter.)

[cake_crumb]

"As usual, the pinheads in the press corps ask questions that have absolutely nothing to do with the topic of the anouncement."

Yep : they didn't ask him a single question about the economy. That's because they're fixated on ANSWER's alleged anti war/anti racism protests and trying to find "issues" for their candidates in '04...so they have to continue trying to peg him as either a rabid warmonger or a racist.

[MeekOneGOP]

Well said Mr. President!! The situation with Saddam is like watching Groundhog Day, every day for the past eleven years.

LOL ! Well put yourself!...

[PhiKapMom]

Looks like the clock is ticking down. Down believe any holiday is going to interfer with our plans. If we allowed that to occur then we would never attack.

Personally think we will attack the minute we are good and ready not based on any other country's wishes!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Thanks for posting this!

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