    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book I)]
    [January 25, 2002]
    [Page 115]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Exchange With Reporters in Portland, Maine
    January 25, 2002

    Situation in the Middle East

        Q. Mr. President, are you consider cutting off ties to Yasser
    Arafat, sir?
        The President. I am disappointed in Yasser Arafat. He must make a
    full effort to rout out terror in the Middle East. In order for there to
    be peace, we've got to rout out terror. And ordering up weapons that
    were intercepted on a boat headed toward--headed for that part of the
    world is not part of fighting terror; that's enhancing terror. And
    obviously, we're very disappointed.
        Q. We're told that you thought his explanation was insulting, sir.
        The President. I never said that.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The exchange began at 12:25 p.m. while touring the U.S. Coast
    Guard Cutter Tahoma at the International Marine Terminal. In his
    remarks, the President referred to Chairman Yasser Arafat of the
    Palestinian Authority. A tape was not available for verification of the
    content of this exchange.