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

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for including!

[Grampa Dave]

You probably have a good book with GW's statements. With each chapter, you do a prolog explaining the political situations during this time period. With remarks from the Da$$hole and the mediots. Then you use GW's statements as what he planned to do. Then you summarize the results.

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Have you seen this?

Saddam’s first smoking gun traced to India (Also discussed on FOXNEWS Special Report)

[cake_crumb]

Thank you! <G>

[PhiKapMom]

I had not -- thanks for the link!

[teeman8r]

why journey to mecca when they can see allah in person... go gwb and let the italians side with a winner for a change...

tman

[GretchenEE]

Thanks for this and the many other goodies you post on FR. (And your insightful comments.)

I had to smile when I saw you'd underlined the final sentence about the rerun of the bad movie that he didn't want to watch. I had been copying and pasting excerpts from the press conference to print for a friend, and I had underlined the "rerun" remark on its earlier mention. GMTA

[Grampa Dave]

Thanks for post his actual words. ABCNNBCBS will spin, mutilate and fabricate his replies to meet their agendas.

[PhiKapMom]

That comment this morning jumped at me when he said it and I cracked up laughing. GMTA is right!

[PhiKapMom]

I agree and figure it is time we start putting up the actual words to debunk the so-called national media.

[Grampa Dave]

The Italians have been on board with shortly after 9/11.

We have friends who had a daughter in Italy for a year that started right before 9/11. She was about 24 and working on her Masters Degree. Like her parents, she is a conservative.

She said first that most Italians were outraged and sorry for Americans after 9/11. Then their liberals started saying we caused 9/11.

A lot of the Italians were going along with them. Suddenly, they had some scary incidences and their president released a lot of data about the activies of al Qaeda in Italy and terrorist acts that they had done, failed at and were prevented from doing. This scared most of the Italians back over to our side.

She is back home and predicted that Italy would be a loyal friend in our campaigns against Iraq, Iran and Syria.

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for the insight! I listened carefully to the Italian foreign minister who was with Colin Powell. It was quite obvious the Italians would be there when we need them. We have a lot of AF in their country so I was very glad to hear his comments today.

[Grampa Dave]

Several of you have been doing a great job of this. It really helps to be able to log on to FR and read what was really said or is in GW's plan like his economic package.

Basically every left wing fish wrap, Senator, and ABCNNBCBS had nothing but lies and the DNC mantras published before GW even released the plan.

I think that he buried the Pelosi and the Da$$hole with the reality of his plan, and they are backing away from the economics of the 2004 campaign.

[Grampa Dave]

Our sixth fleet and the added fleet needs a friendly Italy.

I would like to see us close every AFB in Germany, army base and any other facility and move them to Italy and some eventually to Turkey.

This puts them closer to the Middle East for ops and fast response. Also, the dollars that spill out of those military facilities in Germany will go to Italy.

[MeekOneGOP]

Yep. When the time is right, the strike order will be given (and underway), then he'll make an announcement...

[PhiKapMom]

I would like to see us close every AFB in Germany, army base and any other facility and move them to Italy and some eventually to Turkey.

Count me in on that!

[Grampa Dave]

We should level every building and tear up all of the runways and control towers at any Airbase or military base.

Leave nothing that could be used against us in a few years down the road.

[PhiKapMom]

I remember when the Gulf War started I had on NBC and Brokaw was in the Gulf -- he said that an F-16 had just launched -- it was an F-4. He was right there with the crews and I would have thought he would have at least checked out which planes were going in first.

That clock is ticking faster and faster. Today Asst SoS Armitage gave a very good on Sadaam and Wolfowitz is scheduled to give one tomorrow from an email I received earlier! The pressure is on!

[WOSG]

Clear ... crystal clear ... great quote.

soon enough we will hear "we begin bombing in 5 minutes".

[WOSG]

Time to dump French wine for Italian wine!!!