    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
    [May 20, 2005]
    [Pages 837-840]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Remarks Prior to Discussions With Prime Minister Anders Fogh
    Rasmussen of Denmark and an Exchange
    With Reporters
    May 20, 2005

        President Bush. The Prime Minister and I will be glad to answer two
    questions per side.
        First, Mr. Prime Minister, welcome back. It is so wonderful to see
    you. He's a good friend of mine. Denmark is a good friend of America. I
    appreciate your contributions to transatlantic ties. The Prime Minister
    has made very constructive and helpful comments to make sure that the
    transatlantic ties between the United States and Europe are strong. And
    I want to thank you for your leadership role.
        I also appreciate your clear understanding about the historic times
    in which we live, times in which more and more people are becoming free.
    I appreciate your strong support for those who desire to live in a
    democracy in Iraq. I thank you for your contributions to a new democracy
    called Afghanistan. I thank you for your very constructive work in
    helping the Palestinians develop a democratic state that can live side
    by side with Israel in peace.
        So welcome back. It's good to see you, sir.
        Prime Minister Rasmussen. Thank you very much, Mr. President. I'm
    happy to be back in Washington. It's my fourth visit as Prime Minister,
    which underlines that the United States and Denmark are close friends
    and allies. We share the same fundamental values. We are allied in our
    efforts to promote freedom and democracy worldwide.
        And I'm happy to say, in addition to this, that I appreciate very
    much your straightforward style. I consider you a friend, and I know
    that with you, I'll always have a very frank discussion and exchange of
    views. So I'm happy to be back.
        President Bush. Fortunately, he's not that good a friend that I
    would go running with him. [Laughter] He's one of the best runners in
    the world, amongst the world leaders. Yes. He's a good one.
        Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated Press].

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    Stem Cell Research

        Q. Mr. President, on stem cells, specifically, would you veto
    legislation that loosened the requirement on Federal funding for stem
    cell research? And secondly----
        President Bush. Now----
        Q. ----what's your reaction to the news about the South Koreans
    cloning an----
        President Bush. I'm--first, I'm very concerned about cloning. I
    worry about a world in which cloning becomes acceptable. Secondly, I
    made my position very clear on embryonic stem cells. I'm a strong
    supporter of adult stem cell research, of course. But I made it very
    clear to the Congress that the use of Federal money, taxpayers' money to
    promote science which destroys life in order to save life is--I'm
    against that. And therefore, if the bill does that, I will veto it.

    Investigations of Prisoner Abuse

        Q. Mr. President, how do you react to the continuing reports about
    mistreatment of prisoners held by American military around the world,
    and also the perception abroad that the ones that are paying for it are
    low-ranking soldiers but that nobody higher up is taking any
    responsibility?
        President Bush. I think the world ought to be--pay attention to the
    contrast between a society which was run by a brutal tyrant in which
    there was no transparency and a society in which the whole world watches
    a Government find the facts, lay the facts out for the citizens to see,
    and that punishment, when appropriate, be delivered.
        If I'm not mistaken, I think about over 20 percent of the people
    thus far that have been held to account as a result of the Abu Ghraib
    issue have been officers. There have been over, I think, nine
    investigations, eight or nine investigations by independent
    investigators that have made the reports very public. I'm comfortable
    that we're getting to the bottom of the situation, and I know we're
    doing so in a transparent way. Obviously, ours is a country that
    respects human rights and human dignity, and if those rights and dignity
    have been denied, we will hold people to account.
        Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

    Spread of Freedom in the Middle East/War on Terror

        Q. Sir, are you worried that the publication of the Saddam photo,
    along with the Newsweek story, will further inflame tensions and inspire
    the Iraq insurgency and anti-Americanism in the Middle East?
        President Bush. No, I think the Iraq insurgency is inspired by their
    desire to stop the march of freedom. Remember, these are ideologues of--
    that murder innocent people in order to spread their dark vision of
    hate. And therefore, when light begins to show up in the form of
    democracy, it frightens them. There is no future for these haters in a
    free world. And so they're inspired by the fact that they see democracy
    emerging in Iraq. That's what causes them to want to kill. They're
    frightened by the fact--and inspired the wrong way, by the way--by the
    fact that Afghanistan is free. They're seeing the people in Lebanon
    demand free and fair elections. And their ideology cannot survive in a
    democratic society. See, the only way they can survive is to try to
    shake our will by killing innocent life.
        And that's why our strategy in Iraq is to train the Iraqis so that
    they, themselves, can fight off these terrorists. Listen, 8\1/2\ million
    people went to the polls, in spite of the fact that the--people had been
    killed and there was incredible intimidation. And they defied the
    bombers. These people want to be free, and the killers don't want them
    to be free. And so our strategy is to help the Iraqis realize the dream
    of a free society. And when the Iraqi troops are properly trained--and
    we're headed in that direction--of course it will take less of a
    coalition effort to help this new democracy get started.
        Yes, Steve.

    [[Page 839]]

        Q. What about the Saddam photo? Does that have an impact----
        President Bush. Well, you asked me whether or not that would inspire
    people. You know, I don't think a photo inspires murderers. I think
    they're inspired by an ideology that is so barbaric and backwards that
    it's hard for many in the Western world to comprehend how they think.
    But I would just remind people, if you want to know how ideologically
    grim their vision of the world is, just remember the Taliban. They said,
    ``If you don't agree with our religious views, you'll be prosecuted. If
    you're a woman who seeks freedom, you'll be beaten.'' So these people
    are motivated by a vision of the world that is backward and barbaric.

    Timetable for Troop Withdrawal From Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, while the Danish people might support the war and
    appreciate the progress in Iraq, they're also curious when our soldiers
    will come back home. Can you elaborate on that?
        President Bush. Well, I appreciate that question a lot, and of
    course I get asked that in our own country a lot. And my answer is, it
    makes no sense to set a timetable. And the reason why is, is because it
    will allow an enemy to adjust.
        On the other hand, as I tell our folks, is that we would like to get
    our troops out as quickly as possible. And the definition of that will
    be how soon our commanders on the ground think that the Iraqis are able
    to take the fight to the enemy.
        I just got off of a video--which I'm looking to briefing the Prime
    Minister on--with General Casey, who is
    our general on the ground; he's the commander of the coalition forces.
    And he was describing to us the Iraqi training and the quality of
    training. And some units are in really good shape, and other units need
    additional work. But one of the things that's important to understand is
    the Iraqi Government understands that as civilian governments change,
    there needs to be stability in the military and a chain of command that
    links top to bottom. And General Casey knows we're making progress
    toward establishing that chain of command.
        My answer to the Danish people is, as soon as we can possibly get it
    done. We've got to complete the mission. A free Iraq in the midst of the
    Middle East is going to be a powerful--a powerful agent for peace.
        Listen, thank you all for coming.
        Q. One more?
        President Bush. We don't want to break precedent. Was that you, Mark
    [Mark Knoller, CBS Radio], who asked that?
        Q. It was.
        President Bush. No. [Laughter] You know better than that.

    Note: The President spoke at 10:48 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White
    House. In his remarks, he referred to former President Saddam Hussein of
    Iraq; and Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA, commanding general, Multi-
    National Force--Iraq. A portion of these remarks could not be verified
    because the tape was incomplete.

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