    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2004, Book I)]
    [January 27, 2004]
    [Pages 138-141]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Aleksander
    Kwasniewski of Poland and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    January 27, 2004

        President Bush. I want to welcome my good friend and a good friend
    of our country to the White House. I appreciate so very much you coming
    by, Mr. President.
        I've gotten to know this man well over the years. He is a leader. He
    understands that people need to lead their country towards peace and
    freedom and prosperity, and President Kwasniewski is doing just that.
    He's making a mark on the continent of Europe through his leadership. He
    stands strong.
        In every conversation I've had with him, he has a deep love for the
    Polish people. He expresses his desire for close relations, because he
    understands close relations between our countries is in the people's
    interest.
        And Mr. President, I'm so glad you're back. I appreciate your
    friendship. I appreciate your strength. Welcome.
        President Kwasniewski. I must talk in Polish because I see Polish TV
    here.

    [At this point, President Kwasniewski spoke in Polish, and no
    translation was provided.]

        President Kwasniewski. And now to Americans----
        President Bush. We'll answer some questions here.
        President Kwasniewski. Some questions and maybe short statement to
    you, because----
        President Bush. Absolutely, they love to be informed.
        President Kwasniewski. ----you understand Polish, or not fully?
        President Bush. Well, he speaks French, but not Polish. [Laughter]
        President Kwasniewski. French is the next time, not yet.
        I would like to say that it is a tradition; we began each year with
    this Polish-American consultation. Last year was very important,
    difficult. We are together as allies in Iraq. I'm sure that we have all
    chances to finish this mission with success, in favor

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    of Iraqi people, in favor of the security in the world, in favor of all
    of us. And this visit I hope will be very good to solve some of our
    bilateral issues, which are necessary to eliminate in our relations,
    because the people, especially the people in Poland and Polish
    Americans, they expect very much to make the relations between Poland
    and the United States as excellent as possible. And with such a friend
    as George W. Bush, I'm sure that they are ready to do.
        President Bush. Thank you, sir. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated
    Press].

    Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction

        Q. Mr. President, a year ago you said the dictator of Iraq has got
    weapons of mass destruction. Are you still confident that weapons of
    mass destruction will be found in Iraq, given what Dr. Kay has said?
        President Bush. Let me first compliment Dr. Kay for his work. I appreciate his willingness to go to
    Iraq and I appreciate his willingness to gather facts. And the Iraqi
    Survey Group will continue to gather facts.
        There is no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a gathering threat to America and others. That's
    what we know. We know from years of intelligence, not only our own
    intelligence services but other intelligence-gathering organizations,
    that he had weapons. After all, he used them. He had deep hatred in his
    heart for people who love freedom. We know he was a dangerous man in a
    dangerous part of the world. We know that he defied the United Nations
    year after year after year. And given the events of September the 11th,
    we know we could not trust the good intentions of Saddam Hussein; he
    didn't have any.
        There is no doubt in my mind the world is a better place without
    Saddam Hussein. America is more secure. The
    world is safer, and the people of Iraq are free.
        You want to call on the Polish press?
        President Kwasniewski. Yes, please.

    U.S. Military Aid for Poland

        Q. Polish Television, a question for Mr. President Bush. Mr.
    President, there is a feeling in Poland that America is not doing enough
    for Polish effort in Iraq. Are you planning to extend military support
    for Poland?
        President Bush. I look forward to talking to my friend about that
    today. In my '05 budget request there is a $66 million request to help
    the Polish military, particularly with airlift capacity, C-130 aircraft.
    The Polish army is a sophisticated, fine group of soldiers. And one area
    where Poland needs some help is the capacity to move those soldiers, and
    we look forward to helping the Government do that.

    Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction/ Prewar Intelligence

        Q. Mr. President, do you have any questions about the prewar
    intelligence? And the Democrats are wanting an independent commission to
    look into this. Would you go along with that?
        President Bush. Well, first of all, I think the--I think it's very
    important for us to let the Iraq Survey Group do its work so we can find
    out the facts and compare the facts to what was thought.
        The first part of your question was?
        Q. Do you have any questions about the prewar intelligence? Were you
    ill-served by the intelligence community?
        President Bush. Well, first of all, I've got great confidence in our
    intelligence community. These are unbelievably hard-working, dedicated
    people who are doing a great job for America.
        And secondly, there is no doubt in my mind that Saddam
    Hussein was a grave and gathering threat to
    America and the world. There is just no doubt in my mind. And I say that
    based upon intelligence that I saw prior to the decision to go into
    Iraq, and I say that based upon what I know today. And the world is
    better off without him. And we're now in the business of making sure
    Iraq is free and democratic.

    [[Page 140]]

    And that's important as well for long-term stability and peace in the
    world. And we're making good progress toward that goal.
        President Kwasniewski. May I add one thing?
        President Bush. Sure, please.
        President Kwasniewski. Because it might be quite interesting for
    American journalists.
        Many months before Iraqi action, I met predecessor of Hans Blix in
    Warsaw. I invited him to my palace, and we discussed about mass
    destruction weapons, Iraq, and everything. And he told me very important
    thing, that Saddam has these weapons or is ready to produce these
    weapons, because to have such an impression that he has mass destruction
    weapons is a part of his doctrine to keep own power in Iraq and to be
    strong in the region.
        So I think that it's very difficult today to judge how it was when
    he had--when he decided to continue this project of mass destruction
    weapons. But that was information of predecessor of Mr. Blix in Warsaw,
    that absolutely Iraq is ready to produce if it's necessary to keep the
    power of and the dictatorship of Saddam and to play such important role
    in the region.
        President Bush. Yes, Dave [David Gregory, NBC News].
        Q. Mr. President, but how do you describe and account for the
    difference between what you claimed prior to the war about what he
    possessed and what he was capable of, and what the intelligence said he
    possessed and was capable of in terms of a nuclear weapon within the
    decade, and the fact that David Kay says the intelligence was inaccurate
    and wrong, and nothing has been found? Don't you owe the American people
    an explanation?
        President Bush. Well, I think the Iraqi Survey Group must do its
    work. Again, I appreciate David Kay's
    contribution. I said in the runup to the war against Iraq that--first of
    all, I hoped the international community would take care of him. I was
    hoping the United Nations would enforce its resolutions, one of many.
    And then we went to the United Nations, of course, and got an
    overwhelming resolution--1441--unanimous resolution that said to
    Saddam, ``You must disclose and destroy your
    weapons programs,'' which obviously meant the world felt he had such
    programs. He chose defiance. It was his choice to make, and he did not
    let us in.
        I said in the runup that Saddam was a
    grave and gathering danger; that's what I said. And I believed it then,
    and I know it was true now, and as Mr. Kay said,
    that Iraq was a dangerous place. And given the circumstances of
    September the 11th, given the fact that we're vulnerable to attack, this
    Nation had to act for our security.

    Visa and Immigration Policy

        Q.  Will you--[inaudible]--this week the visas for Polish tourists
    coming to the United States?
        President Bush. Visa issue?
        Q. Visa. Visas--[inaudible]--President, do you offer anything on the
    visa policy for the Polish people?
        President Bush. Well, we're working with the President on this very
    delicate issue. And there is the opportunity for some prescreening to
    make sure that Polish citizens headed to the United States are not
    inconvenienced. We've got a study group we're going to put together to
    make sure that we come up with rational policy. But let me make sure
    everybody understands: The Congress decides the visa policy. That's what
    the Congress decides. And our study group will work with the Polish
    authorities in a way that makes it clear what the realities are here in
    the United States and makes it clear what the realities are on the
    ground in Poland.
        Listen, let me just take a step back on this very important issue.
    We value our friendship with Poland. Poland is our great friend. There
    are thousands of Polish Americans who----
        President Kwasniewski. Millions.

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        President Bush. Millions, excuse me. I just don't want to overstate
    the case here. [Laughter]
        President Kwasniewski. Especially before the election--millions and
    millions. [Laughter]
        President Bush. ----that love Poland and that have got relatives in
    Poland. And we understand the need for dialog and travel. We've got visa
    rules set by the Congress that we just--that are on the books. And we
    look forward to working with the President on these issues.
        President Kwasniewski. We will work, of course, but I would like to
    deliver this idea to you and to our friends. The future of the world is
    without visa, not with visa. That should be our goal.
        President Bush. Yes.
        President Kwasniewski. And of course, how to reach this important
    goal, that is task for politicians, because the future of the world,
    with Poland, with Eastern Europe, with the world is no visa, not visa.
    That's--me, very modest citizen of Poland, I speak to you. That is the
    future--that is the future.
        President Bush. Well, it could be. Let me also say that I announced
    a very important piece of legislation--or called Congress to an
    important piece of legislation, which is to issue temporary-worker
    cards, which will help address much of the issue with the Polish people.
    And I would hope Congress would pass rational immigration policy--that
    is, not amnesty--rational immigration policy that matches willing worker
    with willing employer. And that also will help on this issue.
        President Kwasniewski. It will help very much. We appreciate it very
    much. But, please, dear President, the future is no visa.
        President Bush. Thank you all.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:23 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to David Kay, former CIA Special
    Advisor for Strategy Regarding Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction
    Programs; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. President
    Kwasniewski referred to Hans Blix, former executive chairman, United
    Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC).