    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2001, Book II)]
    [October 9, 2001]
    [Pages 1206-1211]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following Discussions With Chancellor Gerhard
    Schroeder of Germany and an Exchange With
    Reporters
    October 9, 2001

        The President. It's been my honor to welcome a great friend of
    America to the Oval Office again. Chancellor Schroeder came to talk
    about our war against terrorist activities. We had a great discussion.
        First, I want to thank the Chancellor for his solidarity with the
    American people and his strong statement of support for the American
    people right after the evildoers struck on September the 11th. I also
    want to thank Chancellor Schroeder and the

    [[Page 1207]]

    German people for their outpouring of support for the victims.
        And I also want to thank him for being a steadfast friend in a broad
    coalition that is determined to rout terrorism out where it may exist,
    to not only bring the Al Qaida organization to justice but to declare a
    broad campaign against terrorists and terrorism all across the world.
    There is no more steadfast friend in this coalition than Germany, and
    I'm proud to have him here.
        We also talked about the Middle East and the importance that both of
    us recognize for that process to get into Mitchell as quickly as
    possible. The German Government has been very strong about working with
    both parties in the Middle East to get into Mitchell. I assured him
    we're doing the same thing. There would be no better stabilizer for our
    coalition than for the Mitchell process to begin in the Middle East.
        But Mr. Chancellor, we're so thrilled to have you here. Thank you
    for coming.
        Chancellor Schroeder. Thank you very much, indeed, Mr. President. I,
    obviously, very happily came here. And I'm pleased to be here, because
    it is important to us to show that--very much in these difficult times--
    friendship must prevail and does prevail. And I'm also here to express
    the deepest solidarity from the German side, which is not just words
    being said, but it's a fact.
        We very much are in agreement about the fact that this fight against
    terrorism, which we are all involved in by now, must be a very
    comprehensive approach, indeed. The action that is being taken right now
    must be added to through political measures, through diplomatic action,
    too.
        We also find it very important to maintain the strong degree of
    cohesion that we see at this point in time within the antiterror
    alliance that has formed around the world. We went on to agree that it
    was crucially important to dry up the financing for the terrorists. And
    we also find it very important to highlight that the action that is
    presently being taken in Afghanistan is not at all directed against the
    people of Afghanistan; it is not at all directed against Islam; it is
    far rather directed against Usama bin Laden and the very ruthless regime
    behind him.
        We have also very strongly emphasized how important we find it that
    we do provide relief for the refugees and cope with the refugee problem
    that will arise. And I can only yet again emphasize the high degree of
    respect that I feel vis-a-vis the United States of America and the
    American President, how he has gone about linking humanitarian aid and
    assistance up with the strike in this fantastic way he has done.
        The President. Thank you, sir.

    Military Action in Afghanistan/German Contribution

        Q. Mr. President, how close are we to using U.S. ground troops in
    Afghanistan? And Mr. Chancellor, what extra commitments did you make of
    German military assets today to the United States cause?
        The President. Well, first, I think the American people are
    beginning to realize that this is a unique type of war. The first shot
    we took in this war against terrorism was when we started cutting off
    their money. And I want to thank the German Chancellor and the German
    Government for cooperating and joining with us in not only sharing
    information but making it clear to Al Qaida and other terrorist groups,
    we're going to cut you off financially.
        Secondly, as you know, we've started conventional operations. And I
    believe Secretary Rumsfeld summed it up
    pretty well today when he made it clear that the skies were now free for
    U.S. planes to fly without being harassed in any way and that the
    missions have been successful.
        And as to whether or not we will put troops on the ground, I'm not
    going to tell you. I think it's--you've got to understand, we will not
    share intelligence, nor will we talk about military plans that we may or
    may not have in the future.

    [[Page 1208]]

        Chancellor Schroeder. I have--and you might remember me saying
    that--never excluded military contributions coming from the Federal
    Republic of Germany. We most obviously addressed this topic today. But
    as you might easily understand, it would be entirely unhelpful to spread
    this type of information. It would only help the enemy that we're trying
    to bring down. It is obvious that at the given point in time, details
    will be discussed in all friendship, and we'll come to good decisions.

    Intelligence Briefings/Anthrax Exposures

        Q. Mr. President, can you tell us what prompted you to write the
    memo to Congress about briefing on intelligence matters, why you think
    such restrictions are appropriate? And could you also address what
    threat you think these limited anthrax exposures pose more generally? Is
    it linked to terrorism at all?
        The President. Well first, Mr. Chancellor, we had a--we had some
    security briefings take place up on Capitol Hill that were a discussion
    about classified information, and some of that information was shared
    with the press.
        Chancellor Schroeder. Oh, we know that trouble. [Laughter]
        The President. Oh, you know that trouble, too. [Laughter]
        These are extraordinary times. Our Nation has put our troops at
    risk. And therefore, I felt it was important to send a clear signal to
    Congress that classified information must be held dear, that there's a
    responsibility, that if you receive a briefing of classified information
    you have a responsibility. And some Members did not accept that
    responsibility--somebody didn't. So I took it upon myself to notify the
    leadership of the Congress that I intend to protect our troops.
        And that's why I sent the letter I sent. It's a serious matter, Dave
    [David Gregory, NBC News]; it's very serious that people in positions of
    responsibility understand that they have a responsibility to people who
    are being put in harm's way.
        I'm having breakfast tomorrow with Members of Congress. I will be
    glad to bring up this subject. I understand there may be some heartburn
    on Capitol Hill. But I suggest if they want to relieve that heartburn,
    that they take their positions very seriously and that they take any
    information they've been given by our Government very seriously, because
    this is serious business we're talking about.
        And the second question about anthrax, that is serious as well. I
    want to first tell the American people that an incident obviously came
    up, in the form of a sick male who unfortunately passed away. And the
    local authorities, along with the CDC, responded very quickly. There is
    a system in place to notify our Government and governments in the case
    of some kind of potential biological incident or chemical incident. And
    the system worked. And now the system is even working better, because we
    have, in essence, gone into the building, cleaned the building out,
    taken all the samples as possible, and are following any trail, any
    possible trail.
        So thus far, it looks like it's a very isolated incident. But any--
    any type of incident, any type of information that comes into our
    Government, we take very seriously, because we understand we're dealing
    with evil people. And as you know, I've assured the American people that
    life should go on as normal. But they also should know, the American
    people should know, that our Government is doing everything we can to
    make our country as safe as possible.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Military Action in Afghanistan

        Q. Mr. President, the Pakistani President says he was told that the
    bombing campaign would be relatively short. How long do you think it
    will take? And what do you say to some of these people in the

    [[Page 1209]]

    Islamic world who are protesting the campaign?
        The President. Yes. Well, Steve, I don't know who told the Pakistani
    President that. Generally, you know, we
    don't talk about military plans. And there is one way to shorten the
    campaign in Afghanistan, and that's for the--Usama bin Laden and his leadership to be turned over so they can be
    brought to justice.
        We will have a sustained effort. But I want to remind you that this
    is a part of a larger effort, that our war, the war of freedom-loving
    people, such as the Germans and the Americans, is against terrorists as
    a whole. And this is one part of a large campaign. We--the coalition has
    arrested over 200 people that have been associated with the Al Qaida
    organization. All around the world, freedom-loving people are gathering
    information, sharing information, and bringing people to justice.
        And what was the second part of your question?

    Protests in Islamic Nations

        Q. The Islamic protesters. What do you say to those people?
        The President. I say that if they think that the--first of all, I
    think the message of the Al Qaida organization is one of evil and hate.
    I understand people's willingness to protest, but they should not
    protest the decisions our coalition is making, because it is in the best
    interests of freedom and humankind.

    Al Qaida and Nations Supporting Terrorism

        Q. Do you still want him dead or alive?
        The President. Ours is a compassionate nation, as is Germany. We're
    both combining our resources to help people in need. There are thousands
    of starving Afghans, because there is a Taliban Government in place that
    has caused starvation and deprivation and discrimination. And they are
    now housing terrorists. And make no mistake about it: The doctrine that
    says if you house a terrorist, you're just as guilty as a terrorist,
    will stand. We're making that very evident to the world as we speak.
        Q. Do you still want Mr. bin Laden dead or alive, sir?
        The President. I want there to be justice. I want there to be
    justice. And it's Al Qaida, but it's anybody who feeds Al Qaida, who
    houses Al Qaida, who encourages Al Qaida. Any other terrorist
    organization that is affiliated with Al Qaida is just as guilty, as far
    as I'm concerned.
        We're very patient people. The American people understand, and I
    know that the Chancellor understands, that this is a different kind of
    war. There's a certain sense of fascination with previous wars in Kosovo
    and Desert Storm, where people could turn on their TV screens and see
    high-tech weaponry burrowing into bunkers and massive explosions. This
    is a different type of war. There will be a conventional component to
    the conflict, but much of what takes place will never make it onto the
    TV screens. Much of the efforts that we talked about in the Oval Office
    will be efforts that you will never see until people are brought to
    justice. And therefore, there has to be a certain patience. I think the
    American people are beginning to understand that.
        I will assure you that the people--the terrorists of the world will
    understand that I am determined and, having talked with the Chancellor,
    that he is determined to lend the resources of our Government to bring
    them to justice. If it takes one day, one month, one year, or one
    decade, we're patient enough, because we understand that the actions we
    take together are not only important for today but will say to future
    Chancellors or future Presidents, ``Here is how we fight terrorism.'' We
    also understand the actions we take today will make it more likely that
    our children's children will be able to grow up in a free world.
        The first shot of the new war of the 21st century was fired
    September the 11th.

    [[Page 1210]]

    The first battle is being waged, but it's only one of a long series of
    battles.
        Yes, Bill [Bill Plante, CBS News].

    Domestic Reaction

        Q. Mr. President, as you noted on Sunday, there's a certain amount
    of nervous anxiety in the Nation, fear of new attacks, now that the
    military campaign has begun. Will the new Office of Homeland Security do
    anything concrete to recommend to average people, that they can do to
    protect themselves?
        The President. Well, Bill, I think the--you know, the people of
    America should go about their business, should go about their daily
    lives, knowing full well that our Government, at all levels, is doing
    everything we can to disrupt any potential action and/or to provide the
    security necessary for people to travel, for example. I'm briefed every
    single morning about what somebody may or may not have heard and what
    actions are taking place. And their Government is responding as
    forcefully and actively as humanly possible.
        One of the reasons why this coalition is so important is because we
    share information. When Germany hears something about something that may
    take place here and vice versa, we share information. And so, we're on
    high alert at the governmental level.
        But the American people should go about their business. And people
    ought to travel. And people ought to feel comfortable going to see the
    mighty Houston Astros play. People ought to feel comfortable going about
    their lives, knowing that their Government is doing everything humanly
    possible to disrupt any potential activity that the evil ones may try to
    inflict upon us.

    Intelligence Briefings

        Q. Mr. President, when you meet with the congressional leadership
    tomorrow, will you be specific about what they can and cannot relay back
    up to the Hill? Or do you just expect them not to relay anything?
        The President. Well, I'm going to talk to the leaders about this. I
    have talked to them about it. I mean, when the classified information
    first seeped into the public, I called them on the phone and said,
    ``This can't stand. We can't have leaks of classified information. It's
    not in our Nation's interests.''
        But we're now in extraordinary times. And I was in the--when those
    leaks occurred, by the way, it was right before we committed troops. And
    I knew full well what was about to happen. And yet, I see in the media
    that somebody, or somebodies, feel that they should be able to talk
    about classified information. And that's just wrong. The leadership
    understands that.
        And if there's concerns, we'll work it out. I mean, obviously I
    understand there needs to be some briefings. I want Don
    Rumsfeld to feel comfortable briefing
    members of the Armed Services Committee. But I want Congress to hear
    loud and clear: It is unacceptable behavior to leak classified
    information when we have troops at risk.
        I'm looking forward to reiterating that message. And we will work
    together. We've got a great relationship. Listen, the four leaders, with
    whom I have breakfast on a weekly basis, fully understand the stakes.
    They fully understand the decision I made. And they will have gotten
    feedback from their Members, and we will discuss it. But one thing is
    for certain: I have made clear what I expect from Capitol Hill when it
    comes to classified information.
        Chancellor Schroeder. Let me add something. I hope that the German
    press corps did hear it. [Laughter]

    President Vladimir Putin of Russia

        Q. We did hear it, Mr. Chancellor. Mr. President, do you consider
    Russia's war in Chechnya to be, first, a war against terrorists? And has
    your view on that changed since September 11th?

    [[Page 1211]]

        The President. I've had very good conversations with Vladimir Putin
    about the war on terrorism. I know the Chancellor has, as well. I'm, as
    a matter of fact, going to be meeting with the President of Russia
    within 2 weeks, in Shanghai, and I'm looking forward to those meetings.
        I have made it clear to him that I appreciate his strong statements
    about America's efforts and the coalition's efforts to fight terrorism
    where we find it. I also made it clear to him that he needs to respect
    minority rights within his country. And he listened very carefully, and
    I think he's appreciative that our message has been consistent. From the
    very first conversation I had with President Putin, I expressed concern
    about how his government was viewing the minority that exists and how
    they were being treated. So my position has been very consistent.
        To the extent that there's Al Qaida organizations in his
    neighborhood, they need to be brought to justice, as well. And we look
    forward to sharing information with him, just like he's sharing
    information with us. He is--he was one of the first--I will tell you an
    interesting story.
        I was airborne on Air Force One and put our--on September the 11th--
    and put our troops to a high-alert status. And one of the first phone
    calls I got through my national security office was from Vladimir Putin,
    announcing that he has stood his troops down--which is significant. In
    the old days, if we'd have put our troops on heightened alert, they
    would have put their troops on more heightened alert--[laughter]--which
    would have caused our troops to go on higher alert. And all of a sudden
    we would have had a conflict, a potential conflict out of the realm of
    the incident that caused the troops to go on alert.
        So he quickly called and said, ``We're standing our troops down.''
    It's a new attitude toward relationship. He understands the cold war is
    over, and so do I, which provides great opportunity for not only America
    but Germany to work with Mr. Putin for our nations' interests and his
    nation's interests.
        And I think we're going to find a lot of common ground, one of which
    will be to fight terrorism. But as I explained to him, it's going to be
    hard to have common ground if he represses the press and/or treats
    minorities within his own country in a way that the Western world simply
    doesn't understand.
        Listen, thank you all for coming. Thank you, Chancellor. I
    appreciate you, sir.

    Note: The President spoke at 3:45 p.m. in the Colonnade at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to anthrax victim Robert Stevens;
    President Pervez Musharraf of Pakistan; Usama bin Laden, leader of the
    Al Qaida terrorist organization; and President Vladimir Putin of Russia.
    He also referred to the Report of the Sharm el-Sheikh Fact-Finding
    Committee, chaired by former Senator George J. Mitchell, issued April
    30. Chancellor Schroeder spoke in German, and his remarks were
    translated by an interpreter.