[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.