    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [September 18, 2001]
    [Pages 1125-1128]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Jacques Chirac of France and an Exchange With Reporters
    September 18, 2001

        President Bush. It is my honor to welcome a good friend, a good
    personal friend and a good friend of America, to the Oval Office. It's
    the first formal visit I've had

    [[Page 1126]]

    with any world leader since the terrible day a week ago.
        After the incident, after that day, I got a lot of phone calls, and
    one of the most meaningful phone calls of all was from Jacques Chirac,
    who expressed his concern for the American citizens. He expressed his
    desire to stand solidly with America during this terrible, terrible day.
        President Chirac understands that we have entered a new type of war.
    It's a war against people who hate freedom. And I am honored to welcome
    our friend here to the Oval Office.
        Welcome, sir.
        President Chirac. Thank you. I've come here to tell you of the
    emotion--the emotion of France, of the French people, an emotion which
    has no precedent in history before this tragedy, which does not have a
    parallel. Indeed, it is a tragic event, something which is beyond crime;
    there are no words to qualify it.
        I want to tell President Bush, who is my friend, that we stand in
    total solidarity. We bring you the total solidarity of France and the
    French people. It is solidarity of the heart.
        I also wanted to say that we are completely determined to fight by
    your side this new type of evil, of absolute evil, which is terrorism.
    And I also wanted to say that France is prepared and available to
    discuss all means to fight and eradicate this evil.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir.
        Yes, Ron [Ron Fournier, Associated Press].

    Response to Terrorist Attacks

        Q. Mr. President, sir, do you expect French and British soldiers to
    fight side by side with ours?
        And President Chirac, do you agree that we are in a war, and is
    France in it? Will you fight side by side with U.S. troops?
        President Bush. This is a new kind of war. This war will require
    determination and patience. People who love freedom, such as Jacques
    Chirac and the people of France, will join us--I'm confident of that--in
    finding those who feel like they can terrorize nations because they hate
    freedom.
        We will--it's a policy of my Government not to discuss any plans we
    may have as to how we intend to deal with the terrorists and the
    terrorist networks that believe they can disrupt lives anyplace, anytime
    in the world. I look forward to talking with one of our strongest allies
    in private about what's on my mind.
        But make no mistake about it: This administration has got a firm
    goal and a determination to achieve the goal, and that is to rally the
    world toward a campaign to find terrorists, to smoke them out of their
    holes, and to get them, and to bring them to justice.
        And there's no doubt in my mind France joins with us in this most
    important campaign. Jacques Chirac has--this is my fourth meeting with
    this leader. He's a man of vision. He's a man who understands what I
    understand, that we've entered into a new era. And I feel confident that
    we're going to work in a collaborative way to achieve a common
    objective.
        If you love freedom, you must join with us; you must join with
    America and France. That's the message of this meeting. And we will
    discuss ways that we can work in a way that will achieve the goal. And
    there's no doubt in my mind that we'll find solidarity with the French
    and the French Government.
        Q. Will your citizens fight shoulder to shoulder with ours?
        President Chirac. I don't know whether we should use the word
    ``war,'' but what I can say is that now we are faced with a conflict of
    a completely new nature. It is a conflict which is attempting to destroy
    human rights, freedom, the dignity of man. And I believe that everything
    must be done to protect and safeguard these values of civilization.
        Therefore--and we are, naturally, prepared to work in complete
    solidarity with

    [[Page 1127]]

    the United States and do everything which is necessary, in consultation
    with them, to reach this target which is the elimination of terrorism.
    And I would also like to add that practically all the leaders of the
    world are following the same line.
        Q. Mr. President, don't you think it's high time for the occidental
    world to review in a very tougher way its relationship with a certain
    number of, let's say, Arabic countries which have been helping or
    harboring the terrorists?
        President Bush. In my statement to our Nation, I told the people of
    the United States that we would not only hold those who committed these
    horrible acts accountable, that we would also hold those accountable who
    harbored them, who fed them, who hide them. That's our policy.
        Many, many Arab--first of all, it is important to know that this is
    not a campaign against Islam. This is not a campaign against Arab
    people. This is a campaign against terrorists. This is a campaign
    against evildoers who hate freedom.
        I have had and I'm sure Jacques, as well, has had strong statements
    of solidarity from governments in the Middle East. I've talked to many
    world leaders, Arab leaders, all of whom are outraged by the acts of
    terrorism against America, all of whom understand it could be them as
    well. Terrorism knows no borders.
        And so I've been very pleased with the outpouring of support. And we
    will take the governments for their word and will work with them to
    disrupt the finances, the travel, the communications. We will find them
    in their hiding places, and we'll get them moving, and we'll bring them
    to justice. Make no mistake about it.
        Q. Mr. President----
        President Bush. Yes, Patsy [Patricia Wilson, Reuters].

    Middle East Cease-Fire

        Q. Do you think the Middle East cease-fire will hold? And what do
    you think the next step should be for both the Israelis and the
    Palestinians?
        President Bush. We've had very positive developments in the Middle
    East today, and it's one of the subjects that my friend and I will
    discuss. I was very pleased by the statements by Chairman
    Arafat, followed by the strong statements by
    the Israelis that they would stand down troops.
        And I hope in my heart of hearts that out of this evil comes good. I
    think it will; I'm a very optimistic person. And one of the goods that
    can come is that people involved with the Middle East conflict, that
    both leaders here want to resolve, realize that a terrorist way of life
    is not going to lead to a peaceful resolution for people.
        The next step, of course, is to stay involved in the region, is to
    work with both the Palestinians and the Israelis to encourage them to
    seize the moment, to hold Mr. Arafat to his
    word that he will fight violence, and to encourage the Israelis to sit
    down and have meaningful dialog, with the attempt to get into the
    Mitchell process. And it's a glimmer of hope that all of us hope that
    the parties involved will seize.

    U.S. Response to Terrorist Attacks

        Q. Mr. President, how will this new war be fought, this new war
    against terrorism?
        President Bush. It is new, and it's important for the world to
    understand that there are no beaches to storm, there are no islands to
    conquer, there are no battle lines to be drawn. It's a war that is going
    to take an international effort. It's going to take all of us to gather
    the necessary intelligence, the necessary information, to be able to
    find the location of terrorists, to work with governments to smoke them
    out of their safe houses, to get them moving, and then have the courage
    to bring them to justice.
        My Government will commit whatever resources is necessary to be
    effective in this all-important cause. I repeat: We're fighting for
    liberty and freedom, a way of

    [[Page 1128]]

    life that is so essential for humankind, mankind to be able to realize
    their full potential. And we are focused on achieving the goal.
        There's going to be a time when free nations settle into what is
    viewed as an ordinary life, and I hope that happens soon; I hope that
    happens soon. But make no mistake about it: My goal, my intentions will
    not diminish with time. I am absolutely--I know that we are called to
    respond to terror now. This is the time, and the world is ready for
    leadership. And Jacques Chirac is ready to provide that leadership, as
    am I.
        I want to thank you all for being here.

    Note: The President spoke at 6:30 p.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the
    Palestinian Authority. He also referred to the Report of the Sharm el-
    Sheikh Fact-Finding Committee, chaired by former Senator George J.
    Mitchell, issued April 30. President Chirac spoke in French, and his
    remarks were translated by an interpreter.