[Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book I)]
[May 5, 2005]
[Pages 740-742]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]



Interview With European TV NOS
May 5, 2005

President's Upcoming Visit to the Netherlands

    Q. Mr. President, thank you very much for giving us the opportunity 
to talk to you. You're going to Europe, commemorating 60 years of 
liberation in Europe. You could have gone to many countries. Why did you 
choose to go to Holland?
    The President. First of all, Holland was a stalwart, and the people 
of Holland were brave and courageous when it came to resisting tyranny. 
And a lot of people paid a heavy price for standing for freedom in the 
face of fascism. As well many Americans lost their lives on Dutch soil, 
and it's an opportunity to praise those who fought, honor those who 
died, and remind people that there's more work to be done to make the 
world more free.

Democracy in the Middle East/War on Terror

    Q. About that, more work to be done, do you see any similarities 
about what happened 60 years ago, the Americans, among others, 
liberating Europe, and what you are doing now, in the Middle East, for 
example?
    The President. Well, it's a different situation, but there is evil 
in the world. There's always been evil. I believe that those who kill in 
the name of a great religion are evil people; people who are willing to 
destroy innocent life or bury people in mass graves or starve people to 
death are evil. And I think the free world must confront evil. The last 
choice is to use the military. On the other hand, sometimes you have to.
    And as you know, I made a difficult decision. Some in Europe didn't 
agree. Some in Holland didn't agree, and I can understand that. But now 
we have an obligation and a duty, it seems like to me, to work together 
to help others become free. Freedom is universal--freedom shouldn't be 
just--people shouldn't view freedom as only the purview of Americans or 
the Dutch or Europeans. Everybody deserves to be free.

President's Leadership and Decisionmaking

    Q. But the interesting thing is, Mr. President, that we all agree, 
also in Europe, about your goals, democracy, freedom----
    The President. Sure.
    Q. ----safety in the world. Does it frustrate you sometimes that--
for example, in the Netherlands they did a poll before you are coming 
now that a vast part of the population does not agree with the way 
you're handling world affairs, for example.
    The President. Well, you know----
    Q. Is it frustrating?
    The President. No, it doesn't. I mean, I----
    Q. It must be a little, though.
    The President. No, it doesn't; it doesn't frustrate me. I make 
decisions on what I think is right. That's what leaders do. The other 
day in a press conference, I was asked about polls here in America. I 
said, ``A leader who tries to lead based upon polls is like a dog 
chasing his tail.'' That's not how you lead. No, I feel comfortable with 
the decisions I've made.
    Q. Is it maybe, then, a communication problem?
    The President. I don't know. I don't follow the Dutch media, don't 
know what's being said in Holland.

Abu Ghraib/Cooperation in Iraq

    Q. Well, when people are being asked about you or America, they 
admire, again, your goals, but when you talk about, for example, about 
the war on terror and you see freedom and democracy, the Dutch see that 
as well, but they also see, for example, prisoner abuse in Abu Ghraib 
prison or

[[Page 741]]

Guantanamo Bay, where prisoners are being held without charge, or the 
Americans who do not want their soldiers in The Hague for the tribunal, 
to be accountable.
    The President. Well, we have different----
    Q. So they see that problem.
    The President. Well, first of all, all Americans, including me, 
reject Abu Ghraib. That was an aberration. That's not what America 
stands for. And if people are concerned about the tactics, I understand 
that, but the goal is peace. And now is the time to work together to 
achieve peace.
    Q. How do you want to do that? What do you want to tell the Dutch 
people?
    The President. Let me finish. But you asked me, do I worry about 
polls? I don't; that's not what leaders do. Leaders who sit around and 
read polls all the time are leaders that don't lead.
    Q. But the Dutch people are interested in----
    The President. Let me finish, please. And I have an obligation to 
lead. And we're making progress. You saw 8\1/2\ million people voted in 
Iraq. They defied the terrorists. They defied the suicide bombers, 
because they desire to be free. And now we have an obligation to work to 
help that country develop into a democracy, because the lesson of 
Europe, of working together as democracies, has yielded peace.
    You know, 60 years ago, people would sit around and wonder whether 
or not peace was possible. And as a result of the good work of many in 
Holland and around Europe and the United States working collaborative, 
the world is a peaceful place. And that's what we have a chance to do 
today. And that's why I thank the Dutch Government for helping train 
Iraqis, for example, helping Iraq become stable. And it's in our long-
term interest that that happen.

Democracy in the Netherlands/Culture of Life

    Q. One last question about something completely different.
    The President. Sure.
    Q. You're the President in the United States known for coming up for 
moral values, moral issues, also--Terri Schiavo, for example. The Dutch 
Government is completely on the other side of the spectrum when it comes 
to abortion or euthanasia, gay marriages, drugs even. Politicians from 
your party weren't even--Americans don't go--don't want to go to the 
direction of Holland. Do you share that concern?
    The President. No, I--first of all, Holland is a free country. It's 
a country where the people get to decide the policy. The Government just 
reflects the will of the people. That's what democracies are all about. 
And that's what--that's why we should continue to work for common 
interest to support government of the people, not government that 
dictates to people. And so, if that's what the people of Holland want, 
that's what the Government should reflect.
    Q. No special message from the President of America?
    The President. No. I mean, people are allowed to make--I have a 
different view, and many Americans have a different view. I've always 
worked to promote a culture of life. I think that a civil society is one 
that protects the most vulnerable among us.
    But you asked me whether or not I have a message for the people of 
Holland. The message is: Keep free, be free, support democracy and 
liberty, not only within your country but continue to work with free 
nations to help people be free around the world, and the world will be a 
more peaceful place.

Europe-U.S. Relations/International Criminal Court

    Q. One final question, if I may, please.
    The President. Sure, sure.
    Q. I think maybe Europeans feel that you're also their President, 
but they do not get to vote for you. How do you feel that 
responsibility?

[[Page 742]]

    The President. I really--I appreciate that. I'm perplexed by that 
attitude, because Europeans have got very good leaders.
    Q. But your decisions influence our lives.
    The President. Well, sometimes they do, and sometimes European 
decisions influence American lives. But the best way to influence the 
world is to work together in a collaborative spirit. And I appreciate 
the leadership in the Netherlands. I get along very well with the 
leadership, and I am--my pledge is to continue to work as closely as we 
possibly can.
    Listen, there's going to be differences of opinion. You mentioned 
the International Criminal Court. We're not going to join it, and 
there's a reason why we're not going to join it: We don't want our 
soldiers being brought up in front of unelected judges. But that doesn't 
mean that we're not going to hold people to account, which we're doing 
now in America. And--nor does it mean that even though we may disagree 
on the Court, that we can't work for other big goals in the world.
    And so, again, on my second trip to Europe since I've been the 
President, I'm going to continue to emphasize my desire to work with 
others to achieve peace.
    Q. Okay, Mr. President.
    The President. Welcome.
    Q. Thank you again.
    The President. Yes. Thanks for coming.
    Q. And enjoy your stay in the Netherlands.
    The President. I'm looking forward to it.

Note: The interview was taped at 9:48 a.m. in the Map Room at the White 
House for later broadcast.