    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [November 28, 2001]
    [Pages 1451-1452]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1451]]

    Remarks Following Discussions With President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain and an Exchange With Reporters
    November 28, 2001

        President Bush. It's my honor to welcome a friend of mine and a
    friend of our country, the President of Spain, to the White House. Jose
    Maria was on the phone early, right after September the 11th. He assured
    me that he would cooperate in any way possible in our mutual desire to
    fight terror. And he has lived up to his word, and for that, I am
    grateful.
        I asked nations to join us in bringing people to justice who are
    evil, who don't respect the law, and this President responded. Recently,
    Spain has arrested Al Qaida members and has shared information about
    those Al Qaida members, and it's incredibly helpful. And for that, Mr.
    President, the American people are very grateful. And in our meetings
    today I assured the President that our Nation would help Spain in any
    way possible to fight terror. And Mr. President, you've got that
    assurance.
        So it's a great honor--un honor para mi para decir a mi amigo,
    bienvenidos a los Estados Unidos.
        President Aznar. Dear President Bush, may I thank you for your
    invitation. It is, indeed, a great honor and tremendous satisfaction for
    me to visit the White House.
        We have very fond memories of the visit that you made to us in Spain
    last June, and we recall your commitment and your words of support to
    Spain's fight against terrorism. And several months later, we have
    managed to see this solidarity; this alliance is a two-way alliance.
        Spain supports, has supported, and will support all the United
    States' efforts to track down, to eradicate, and to eliminate terrorism
    wherever it may be worldwide. We intend to maintain and, if necessary,
    strengthen our political commitment, our cooperation in the area of
    intelligence and security and information-sharing, and if need be, to
    commit military forces to that battle.
        Our battle is a battle for the same ideas, for the same freedoms,
    for the same society and civilizations, and we will share all those
    efforts as long as is necessary to combat. The only fate that awaits
    terrorists is defeat, and the only option for terrorists is going to be
    brought to justice.
        Thank you.
        President Bush. Tenemos hambre, y por eso, solamente cuatros
    preguntas. Dos de la prensa de la Estados Unidos, dos de la prensa de
    Espana, por favor. Four questions, two from the American press, two from
    Spanish press, because we're hungry; we've got a big meal. [Laughter]

    Legislative Agenda

        Q. Yes, sir. Do you support suspending the payroll tax as a
    compromise on the stimulus?
        President Bush. The question is, do I support providing a credit on
    the payroll tax?
        Q. Correct.
        President Bush. The Domenici idea in the Senate? Here's what I
    support: I support the Senate coming together and getting a bill moving
    as quickly as possible, so that we can get it to conference and get the
    differences resolved. The Senate must pass a stimulus package. The
    American people expect them to do so; I expect them to do so.
        I had a good conversation today with Senator Daschle and Senator Lott on this very
    subject and urged them to get the business done--get the appropriations
    bills passed, to get a stimulus package passed, and then go home and
    enjoy the Christmas vacation. And I hope they do so. There are
    differences, but the differences aren't

    [[Page 1452]]

    that big. Any good package must be stimulative in effect and, at the
    same time, take care of displaced workers. There's agreement on that.
    They just now have got to work out the details, and I hope they're able
    to do so.

    Detained Spanish Nationals

        Q. Mr. President, according to The New York Times, 13 Spanish
    nationals are being held in the United States in relation to the attacks
    on the Twin Towers. Did you speak about that to President Bush?
        President Aznar. No.

    Airport and Airline Security

        Q. Mr. President, how can you assure the American people safety in
    the skies, given that your Transportation Secretary now thinks it may be
    impossible to meet that initial deadline for screening baggage?
        President Bush. David [David Gregory, NBC News], we're doing
    everything we can to meet the deadline. And we're doing everything we
    can to make sure that the American people feel safe. And one way we're
    doing it is to have guardsmen at the airports over the Christmas
    holidays. Another way to do it is to have the planes full of air
    marshals. And finally, obviously, we need to expedite the ability for us
    to inspect baggage, and we're doing everything we can to do that.

    Military Tribunals/Extradition

        Q. Did you discuss the military tribunals with regard to
    extradition----
        President Bush. Military tribunals was the question.
        President Aznar. I said at the beginning of this press conference
    that political cooperation between Spain and the United States is full
    on this issue. And I just reiterate that and also say that cooperation
    between the United States and Spain, Spain and the United States, is
    also full as regards Spain's own terrorism problem. And I think that is
    the most important point to bear in mind.
        You asked about the extradition of the Al Qaida members in Spain.
    Can I just say that if and when the United States requests that
    extradition, we will study the issue. Can I also say that the United
    States is free to organize its own jurisdiction as it sees fit, as a
    free and democratic country. Any action taken on the extradition issue
    will be taken with full respect of Spanish and United States law.
        We are also working on this issue at the European Union level, and
    we do hope to reach agreement on that issue in the very near future.
        President Bush. Thank you all. Thank you.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:55 a.m. in the Rose Garden at the White
    House. President Aznar spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were translated
    by an interpreter. The Office of the Press Secretary also released a
    Spanish language transcript of these remarks.