    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2002, Book II)]
    [November 21, 2002]
    [Pages 2108-2110]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom and an Exchange With Reporters in
    Prague, Czech Republic
    November 21, 2002

        President Bush. I'm really looking forward to visiting with the
    Prime Minister of Great Britain, Tony Blair. He's a friend; he's a
    strong leader. He and I are bound by the strong conviction that freedom
    belongs to everybody and that we're going to work together to make the
    world a more peaceful place.
        I'm greatly disturbed by the news from the Middle East today.
    There's been yet another suicide bombing. It is clear that those who
    want to use terror to stop any process for peace are still active. In
    order to achieve peace, all countries in that region must be responsible
    for--take responsibility, do their best to fight off terror.
        And I know the Prime Minister joins me as we mourn the loss of life.
    But we are going to continue to work toward peace in the Middle East.
    Two states living side by side in peace is the vision. And we will
    continue to work with those who share that vision--for the sake of the
    Israeli people and for the sake of the Palestinians.
        Mr. Prime Minister.
        Prime Minister Blair. Mr. President, first of all, we're pleased to
    see you again and exchange views on a range of issues that confront us
    at the moment. And I entirely agree with what you said a moment or two
    ago. Our thoughts are obviously with the victims of the latest terrorist
    outrage in Israel.
        And the two things that are so clear is that, first of all, we need
    the action on security and action against terrorism, and secondly, to
    make progress in building a lasting peace in that region, based, as you
    say, on the two-state solution. It's an issue that I think--what is
    interesting is that the whole world wants to see us now, having--take
    this very firm stand against terrorism, against issues of weapons of
    mass destruction, but also try and make sure that we can provide a
    secure future with lasting peace in the Middle East. And I think those
    issues are all very much linked together.
        President Bush. We'll take a question apiece. Greg [David Gregory,
    NBC News].

    [[Page 2109]]

    Germany-U.S. Relations

        Q. Mr. President, can you tell us if you've had a chance this week
    to speak with German Chancellor Schroeder yet?
        President Bush. I did. I had a cordial meeting at that meeting last
    night. We greeted each other cordially.
        Q. Can you give us an assessment of the state of U.S.-German
    relations in light of the recent election?
        President Bush. It's a--Germany is an important friend of the United
    States. And we've got a relationship to maintain, and we will maintain
    it.

    Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, you put a formal request to Britain and other
    countries to supply troops----
        President Bush. Have we?
        Q. ----for a possible conflict in Iraq.
        President Bush. Is that a question, have we, or an asserted
    statement?
        Q. I understood you had----
        President Bush. Oh, I see.
        Q. ----and I wonder what your expectation was of what Britain might
    do.
        President Bush. Well, my expectation is, is that we can do this
    peacefully, if Saddam Hussein disarms. That's
    my expectation. Saddam Hussein has got a decision to make: Will he
    uphold the agreement that he has made? And if he chooses to do so by
    disarming peacefully, the world will be better off for it. If he chooses
    not to disarm, we will work with our close friends, the closest of which
    is Great Britain, and we will disarm him. But our first choice is not to
    use the military option. Our first choice is for Mr. Saddam Hussein to
    disarm. And that's where we'll be devoting a lot of our energies.
        Q. And Prime Minister, you have this request now. You also seem to
    have a prospect of another fire strike as well. Do you believe that many
    British troops and reserves are going to have to prepare for a Christmas
    away from their family celebration in either fighting fires or fighting
    Saddam Hussein?
        Prime Minister Blair. We will do what's necessary, both to secure
    ourselves at home and to make sure that the will of the United Nations
    is enforced abroad. And I think what you will find here at this NATO
    summit is a totally united determination on behalf of the international
    community, reflected in the unanimous United Nations resolution, that
    Saddam Hussein has to disarm himself of all weapons of mass destruction.
    And how that happens is a choice for him.
        We hope and want it to happen through the United Nations inspectors
    mandated by the whole of the international community. But if he fails to
    cooperate with them, if he fails to do all he can--and it is within his
    power--to help that process of disarmament through the United Nations,
    then he will be disarmed by force. And that is the clear will of the
    international community. And I think you will find now that there is a
    consensus for that position virtually right across the civilized world.
        Q. Thank you all very much.
        President Bush. Sure. I'm glad to answer your every request.
    [Laughter]
        Q. How about our every question?
        President Bush. I don't want you to get used to asking too many
    questions. I've been answering them all the whole time I've been here,
    question after question after question. If you were to ask a question,
    Stretch, what would it have been, so I can think about it for tomorrow?
    I won't answer it now.

    Usama bin Laden

        Q. What's your reaction to the confirmation of bin Laden being alive
    on the tape?
        President Bush. Thank you. I've got a formulated answer. [Laughter]

    Note: The President spoke at 9:07 a.m. at the Prague Congress Center. In
    his remarks,

    [[Page 2110]]

    he referred to Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder of Germany; and President
    Saddam Hussein of Iraq. A portion of these remarks could not be verified
    because the tape was incomplete.