    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2003, Book II)]
    [July 3, 2003]
    [Pages 830-832]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With CNN International
    July 3, 2003

        Tomi Makagabo. Mr. President, thank you very much for speaking with
    us, and welcome to South Africa.

        The President. Thanks. Thanks for having me.

    Liberia

        Ms. Makagabo. If we could begin with the issue of Liberia, President
    Charles Taylor in particular. You said he needs to step down; he needs
    to leave the country. The U.S., along with other west African countries,
    are busy negotiating the whole issue. What are the discussions and
    options that are being put on the table?

        The President. Well, I'm glad you brought up the departure of
    Charles Taylor. In our judgment, he needs to
    go in order to create the conditions necessary for a peaceful solution
    to this difficult situation occurs.

        You know, look, we're talking to ECOWAS countries right now to
    determine whether or not the--what the nature of a peacekeeping force
    might look like. I'm the kind of person that likes to know all the facts
    before I make a decision. We've got special ties to Liberia. There are
    historical ties to the United States. That's why we are involved in this
    issue, and I am going to look at all the options to determine how best
    to bring peace and stability.
        One thing has to happen. That's Mr. Taylor needs to leave, and I've been outspoken on that. Mr.
    Colin Powell has been outspoken on that. And I think most of the people
    involved with this issue understand that that's important, that he do
    leave.
        Ms. Makagabo. You said that he needs to leave. Does that mean that
    if those negotiations fail and President Charles Taylor refuses to go,
    that you will send troops to remove him from office and----
        The President. Well, first of all, I refuse to accept the negative.
    I understand it's your job to try to put that forth. I believe
    he'll listen. And until he doesn't listen,
    then we can come back and talk about the issue. In other words, I hope
    he does listen, and I'm convinced he will listen.
        Ms. Makagabo. And should he not?
        The President. No, you--I'm convinced he
    will listen and make the decision--the right decision, if he cares about
    his country.

    President's Upcoming Visit to Africa

        Ms. Makagabo. Let's talk about, then, your trip to Africa. It hasn't
    necessarily--it has only recently become more apparent, this particular
    administration's interest in African affairs and involvement in what's
    going on in the country.
        The President. Yes, can I stop you there? That's not true. As a
    matter of fact, from

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    the very beginning of my administration, I've been very much involved
    with African affairs. I've met over 22 African leaders. And I just want
    to make--correct the record before----
        Ms. Makagabo. Absolutely.
        The President. ----disabuse you of that misinformation, because
    Africa has been a very important part of my administration's foreign
    policy.
        Ms. Makagabo. However, many people will say that has only become
    more apparent to them, perhaps not necessarily to the administration,
    but more apparent, outwardly, that this administration is becoming
    involved in African affairs. My question to you, then, is if that is the
    case and looking at the history which you've pointed out, why now? Why
    this visit now?
        The President. Why am I going now? I thought it was important to go
    before my first term was over to show the importance of Africa to my
    administration's foreign policy. And besides going on a trip--I mean,
    trips are fine, but what's more important is policy.
        And I proposed a Millennium Challenge Account, which will, in my
    judgment, affect the lives of African citizens in an incredibly positive
    way, which says that in return for aid--and we're increasing the amount
    of aid available--governments actually have to make decisions which will
    be positive on behalf of their people, such as educating their people or
    providing health care for their people, not to steal the money; in other
    words, don't focus on elite but focus on the people themselves, create
    the conditions necessary for market growth.
        I promoted AGOA. Now, I didn't invent AGOA; that happened in my
    predecessor's time. But I promoted the extension of AGOA, which was the
    trade agreements between the African Continent and the United States,
    which has been incredibly beneficial for a lot of countries and a lot of
    people on the African Continent.
        I proposed an AIDS initiative because I believe it's very important
    for the United States to not only show its muscle to the world but also
    its heart. And the AIDS initiative, in our judgment, when implemented,
    will help affect the lives of thousands of people who are suffering from
    an incredibly--a pandemic that is actually destroying life. And it is--
    it's sad for us.
        And so my administration is not only, you know, good on trips and
    meetings but more important, fundamental policy. And I think that's
    important.

    Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction

        Ms. Makagabo. One policy that your administration hasn't necessarily
    agreed on with many African countries is the question of Iraq and the
    war in Iraq. Can you give us a sense of how close the administration
    feels you are to finding those weapons of mass destruction and banned
    weapons?
        The President. Oh, sure. Yes, there's no doubt in my mind
    he had a weapons program. He was--he used
    them. Remember, he was the guy that gassed his own people. Those were
    weapons of mass destruction he used on his own people. No doubt. We
    found a biological lab, the very same lab that had been banned by the
    United Nations. It will be a matter of time.
        Let me talk about Iraq, and I appreciate you bringing it up. If I
    think something that needs to be done to enhance the security of the
    American people, I'll do it. You see, that's my most important job, is
    to protect the security of America.
        Secondly, I believe in freedom for people, and I suffer when I hear
    the stories of what took place inside of Iraq, the mass graves that have
    been discovered, the torture chambers, the jails for children. And the
    Iraqi people are going to benefit mightily from the actions of the
    United States and a lot of other nations, because they'll be free. And
    we've been there for about 90 days. And the world is such that they
    expect democracy to have occurred yesterday. It's going to take a while
    for a free, democratic Iraq to evolve. But it's going to happen. And
    history will show you what

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    a--it will show you or the skeptics that we are actually correct in our
    assessment of Mr. Saddam Hussein.
        Ms. Makagabo. All right, Mr. President. I think that's where I'm
    going to have to leave it.
        The President. Thank you very much for coming. Hope to see you in
    South Africa.

    Note: The interview was taped at 1:33 p.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to
    former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. A tape was not available for
    verification of the content of this interview.