    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [September 19, 2002]
    [Pages 1619-1620]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Following a Visit With Homeland Security Employees and an
    Exchange With Reporters
    September 19, 2002

    Homeland Security Legislation

        The President. I appreciate Governor Ridge
    giving me a tour of this important facility. It's--we're working hard to
    make sure that we do everything we can to protect our homeland,
    coordinate among the various agencies, until we get a Department of
    Homeland Security.
        Our House of Representatives has passed a good bill. The Senate is
    struggling with a bill. I urge the Senate to get a bill to my desk
    before they go home, a bill which gives us the flexibility necessary to
    move the right people to the right place in order to better protect the
    homeland, a bill which safeguards prerogatives that former Presidents
    have had in regards to national security matters. We're at a time of
    war, and the Senate shouldn't be making it harder for an administration,
    whether it be this one or future administrations, to do their job. Nor
    should the Senate be trying to strip this administration or future
    administrations from any prerogatives or power that former
    administrations have had.
        We're aware that there is hard work on the Senate floor by Senator
    Gramm of Texas, a Republican, and Senator
    Miller of Georgia, a Democrat, to develop a
    comprehensive substitute for a piece of legislation which we believe is
    flawed. We hope the Senate would work with Senator Gramm and Senator
    Miller, vote that bill off the Senate floor, so we can get it to a
    conference committee and get the bill to my desk before they go home.
        This is a really important piece of legislation. America is still
    threatened. There are enemies out there which still hate us. We must do
    everything we can to secure the homeland today and, at the same time,
    leave a legacy behind so future Presidents and future Members of
    Congress can deal with what will be an ongoing threat to our freedoms
    and to our people.
        But anyway, I appreciate your hospitality, Governor. You've got some fine people here working hard on behalf
    of the American people. It's wonderful to see you all again today. Thank
    you.
        Q. Is one vote enough--is Zell Miller's vote enough on this
    compromise?
        The President. [Inaudible]--I'm not counting votes. I'm just calling
    on the right--calling on the Senate to do the right thing for the
    American people.

    Iraq and the United Nations

        Q. Did you hear the Iraqi Foreign Minster's speech at the U.N., sir?
    What did you think of it?
        The President. I didn't hear it, but let me guess: ``The United
    States is guilty. The world doesn't understand. We don't have any
    weapons of mass destruction.'' It's the same old song and dance that
    we've heard for 11 long years. And the United Nations Security Council
    must show backbone,

    [[Page 1620]]

    must step up and hold this regime to account. Otherwise, the United
    States and some of our friends will do so.
        For the sake of peace, for the sake of world security, for the sake
    of a viable United Nations, they must act. And if they don't have it in
    their will to do so, if they're not willing to fashion a resolution
    which is new and different and strong and holds Iraq to account, holds
    them to the agreements they have made, the United States will be willing
    to do so.
        Q. Should the American people prepare themselves for war with Iraq,
    Mr. President?
        The President. The American people must understand the serious
    threat which Iraq places on America. We've learned after September the
    11th that oceans no longer protect us from an enemy. We also know full
    well this is a man who has invaded two
    countries; this is a man who has poisoned his own people; this is man
    who's poisoned his neighbors; this is a man who says that Stalin is his
    hero; this is a man who hates; this is a man who doesn't believe in
    freedom; this is a man who has weapons of mass destruction and says he
    doesn't. He poses a serious threat to the American people. And the first
    step is to get the United Nations to prove to the world whether it's
    going to be relevant or whether it's going to be a League of Nations,
    irrelevant.

    Note: The President spoke at 2:43 p.m. at the Nebraska Avenue Homeland
    Security Complex. In his remarks, he referred to President Saddam
    Hussein of Iraq. A reporter referred to Foreign Minister Naji Sabri
    Ahmad al-Hadithi of Iraq.