[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book I)]
[January 31, 2003]
[Pages 114-117]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom
January 31, 2003

    President Bush. It's my honor to welcome Tony Blair back to the 
White House. We just had a wide-ranging discussion on a lot of issues. I 
appreciate my friend's commitment to peace and security. I appreciate 
his vision. I appreciate his willingness to lead. Most importantly, I 
appreciate his understanding that after September the 11th, 2001, the 
world changed, that we face a common enemy, terrorists willing to kill 
innocent lives, that we now recognize that threats which gather in 
remote regions of the world must be dealt with before others lose their 
lives.
    Tony Blair is a friend. He's a friend of the American people. He's a 
friend of mine. I trust his judgment, and I appreciate his wisdom.
    Welcome.
    Prime Minister Blair. First of all, can I say how delighted I am to 
be back in the White House and to see President Bush. And as he's just 
described to you, we had an excellent discussion, covering all the key 
issues of the day. And I would like to praise his leadership in the 
world since September the 11th, particularly on what I think are the two 
key issues that face our world today, which are issues of international 
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. And I think both of those 
issues come together because they threaten the peace and the order and 
the stability of the world.
    And what is essential is that in every respect, in every way that we 
can, we mobilize international support and the international community 
in order to make sure that these twin threats that the world faces are 
dealt with. And I have no doubt at all that we can deal with them. But 
we should realize those two threats, terrorism, weapons of mass 
destruction, are not different; they're linked. And dealing with both of 
them is essential for the future peace and security and prosperity of 
the world.
    Thank you.
    President Bush. Fournier [Ron Fournier, Associated Press]. Here's 
what we're going to do. I will call upon a reporter. The Prime Minister 
will call upon a reporter. And we'll do this three different times. 
Start with you.

Timetable for Action/U.N. Resolution 1441

    Q. Thank you, sir. First, quickly to the Prime Minister, did you ask 
President Bush to secure a second U.N. resolution and to give the 
inspectors more time? And President Bush, the U.N. says--the U.N. 
inspectors say Saddam is not complying; you say Saddam is not complying. 
Why wait a matter of weeks? What's--why hold up on the decision?
    President Bush. First of all, you violated the two-question rule--as 
usual. He's had a bad habit of this. I'll start.
    Saddam Hussein Upcoming U.N. Visit

    Q. Thank you, sir. Mr. President, is Secretary Powell going to 
provide the undeniable proof of Iraq's guilt that so many critics are 
calling for?
    President Bush. Well, all due in modesty, I thought I did a pretty 
good job myself of making it clear that he's not disarming and why he 
should disarm. Secretary Powell will make a strong case about the danger 
of an armed Saddam Hussein.