    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [August 4, 2005]
    [Pages 1305-1309]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With President Alvaro Uribe Velez of Colombia in Crawford, Texas
    August 4, 2005

        President Bush. Thank you all. Welcome. Laura
    and I are very pleased to welcome President Uribe and his gracious wife,
    Lina, to our home here in Crawford.
    President Uribe is a strong and principled leader. I admire his
    determination. I appreciate his vision for a peaceful and prosperous
    Colombia.
        Our two nations are working together to fight drug trafficking and
    terrorism and to promote security, democracy, and the rule of law
    throughout the Americas. President Uribe's leadership and the courage of
    the Colombian people are creating a bright future for Colombia. The
    Colombian Government implemented a comprehensive strategy, known as Plan
    Colombia, to reduce the illegal drug trade, revitalize Colombia's
    economy, strengthen its democratic institutions, and improve the
    security of its people. The United States provided critical assistance
    for Plan Colombia, and the plan is producing results.
        Violent crime in Colombia is at its lowest level in 16 years. Since
    2002, murders, kidnappings, and terrorist acts in Colombia have all
    declined significantly. Colombia is also making great progress in
    reforming its justice system. These gains in security and the rule of
    law are helping the Colombian economy grow by more than 4 percent last
    year. And as Colombia has improved its security and economy, it has also
    emerged as a leader in our hemisphere.
        Colombia shares our commitment to advancing economic growth, trade,
    and democracy in the Americas. Colombia is also sharing its expertise
    with Afghanistan to combat terrorism and narco-trafficking in that new
    democracy. And America is very grateful for your support.
        America will continue to stand with the people of Colombia. I will
    ask the Congress to sustain our commitment to follow-on programs for
    Plan Colombia so Colombia can build on its progress and win its war
    against the narco-terrorists. Our strategic partnership is vital to the
    security, prosperity, and freedom of both our countries and the
    Americas.
        Mr. President, thank you for your leadership. Thank you for your
    friendship, and welcome.
        President Uribe. Mr. President, thank you very much, and I also want
    to thank your wife, Laura, and all of your team.
    Thank you for welcoming Lina, my delegation, and myself to your home
    here and for sharing with us here in this wonderful place in Texas.
        As you have well said, both of our countries have a strategic
    relationship that is based on mutual trust, which is aimed at deepening
    democracy, at combating terrorism, and on building social cohesion. Our
    agenda is very important for the present and the future of both of our
    peoples so that Colombia can free itself from the scourge of terrorism.
        The great enemy of Colombian democracy is terrorism. And our great
    partner in defeating terrorism has been the Government and the people of
    the United States. Allow me to say here to the rest of the world that
    U.S. cooperation has been exemplary. It has gone beyond rhetoric, and it
    has, in fact, been cooperation that has been put in practice. And all
    democratic countries need to know that, that cooperation should be
    realistic and put into practice.
        We have made progress, and we are winning, but we have not won yet.
    And that is why it is important to continue with this cooperation, as
    you have said, that you have asked from the Congress, President Bush. We
    cannot leave this task half-finished. We must take it all the way to the
    end. We

    [[Page 1306]]

    need a definitive victory for both democratic peoples of Colombia and
    the United States, and also, we must keep that objective in mind as we
    build upon our results to keep moving forward to that final goal.
        We trust that we will soon be able to announce the successful
    completion of our free trade agreement, an agreement built on trust, an
    agreement that can help bring our democratic peoples closer together and
    in more solidarity. The key word in Colombia today is ``trust.'' This is
    the mutual trust that is the basis of the relationship with the United
    States. It is trust that we want to create among Colombian people
    themselves.
        So that Colombians can gain trust in their homeland, we are working
    on five elements of a modern democracy. Number one is democratic
    security, security for all citizens, security for pluralism, security
    for all ideas and for all citizens.
        The second element is respect for public freedom. In Colombia we've
    had a dictatorship of terrorism, but the people, the Government, and the
    nation of Colombia that are fighting terrorism will do so by respecting
    public freedom. They want to serve as an example, because that's the
    difference between what has happened in our country and in other Latin
    American countries, where it was government dictatorships. Here we have
    a democratic government that has full respect for public freedom and
    that fully intends to defeat terrorism.
        The third element is to build social cohesion, which is necessary in
    order to have sustainable democracy and a sustainable security policy.
    The election of Ambassador Moreno as President of the IDB represents a
    great opportunity for our continent. It represents a new hope for us to
    combat poverty and to build social cohesion.
        The fourth element is transparency. The fifth is respect for the
    independence of institutions. Transparency in public affairs,
    transparency in friendship, transparency in partnership and in agreement
    and in disagreement--transparency is critical for modern democracies in
    order for the people to have trust in the government that guides them.
        The fifth element is respect for the independence of our
    institutions, which is important for the rule of law. This is critical
    for a modern democracy. Colombia deepens its respect for its independent
    institutions, especially now that we're combating--in this moment of
    time, when we're combating terrorism.
        Thank you once again, President Bush, for your friendship, for your
    solidarity, and you honor us by welcoming us here to your home.
        President Bush. We'll answer two questions a side. Nedra [Nedra
    Pickler, Associated Press].

    Space Shuttle Discovery

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. The Discovery Space Shuttle mission has
    been dominated by repairs and questions about safety. Do you think the
    return to space was premature? And are you worried about Discovery's
    return next week?
        President Bush. First of all, I had the honor of speaking to the
    folks of--that are on that mission. And it was a great experience to be
    talking to bold explorers. And secondly, like a lot of Americans, I was
    amazed at the procedures that took place to repair the craft. It's
    pretty remarkable. I believe that the mission is important, and I know
    that the mission directors will make the right decision about how to
    proceed.
        Ours is a country that values the safety of our citizens,
    particularly those we ask to take risk in space. And there will be a lot
    of deliberation, a lot of thought that goes into the decision as to
    whether or not those brave souls can--should return on that vehicle. And
    I know that NASA has been very closely in touch with the White House.
    Andy Card has been in touch with the Administrator on a regular basis. But I've got the confidence--all the
    confidence that they will make the right decision.

    [[Page 1307]]

        Let me also say that it is important for our fellow citizens to
    understand that we're going to take the NASA mission beyond the current
    mission, that we'll be using--we want--the plan right now is to phase
    out the shuttle by 2010 and then begin to put a strategy in place that
    will use the moon as a launching spot for further exploration.
        I know the--at least the people I've talked to inside NASA are
    excited about the mission, the reinvigoration of the vision of
    exploration. And I appreciate the Administrator working on getting that
    strategy in place, so that when the decision is made to finally get rid
    of this phase of exploration, we'll be ready to take on the new phase.
    And that's important for the American people to understand, that, one,
    exploration is important; two, there will be some good coming out of
    exploration; and, three, that we've got a new vision embraced by NASA
    and its pioneers.
        Go ahead and ask a question.

    Human Rights and Terrorism in Colombia

        Q. If you could answer in Spanish, that will be great. But really,
    either one of you can answer. I was wondering if Venezuela came up at
    all and whether or not you had a chance to discuss the advances in human
    rights investigations in Colombia?

    [At this point, President Uribe answered the question in Spanish, and no
    translation was provided.]

        Q. Did you discuss Venezuela and human rights?

    [President Uribe answered the question in Spanish.]

        Q. Mr. President----
        President Bush. Hold on a second. Why don't you translate that,
    please.
        Interpreter. Colombia's threat from terrorism--Colombia faces a
    threat from terrorism from--funded by drug trafficking. This is a threat
    that can affect the entire neighborhood, that can affect our entire
    continent. Because when Colombian terrorists cannot kidnap within our
    borders, they're forced to kidnap outside in our neighboring countries.
    This terrorism--this kind of terrorism knows no limits; it knows no
    ethics. And that is why it must be defeated in Colombia. And we must do
    this by getting cooperation from our neighboring countries. And that is
    what we aspire to at the highest levels.
        As far as our human rights, this was discussed with great
    seriousness and with great respect. Our security policy must be
    sustainable. In order for it to be sustainable, there must be respect
    for human rights, and there must be transparency so that it can be
    respected by public opinion. The respect for human rights needs
    transparency. This is what we work for in Colombia every day.
        President Bush. Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters].

     Zawahiri Videotape/War on Terror

        Q. Thanks, sir. Al Qaida's number two, Dr. Al-Zawahiri, is warning
    that attacks will continue until U.S. troops leave Iraq. How serious a
    threat is this? And after so many marines were killed this week, what's
    being done to improve their safety?
        President Bush. First, let me say that we mourn the loss of every
    fallen troop. And the community outside of Cleveland, Brook Park, Ohio,
    suffered mightily over the last couple of days. It's--the people of
    Brook Park and the family members of those who lost their life, I hope
    they can take comfort in the fact that millions of their fellow citizens
    pray for them. I hope they also take comfort in the understanding that
    the sacrifice was made in a noble cause.
        We're laying the foundation of peace for generations to come. We're
    defeating the terrorists in a place like Iraq so we don't have to face
    them here at home. And as well we're spreading democracy and freedom to
    parts of the world that are desperate for democracy and freedom.

    [[Page 1308]]

        The comments by the number-two man of Al Qaida make it clear that
    Iraq is a part of this war on terror, and we're at war. In other words,
    he's saying, ``Leave.'' As I have told the American people, one, that
    people like Zawahiri have an ideology that is dark, dim, backwards; they
    don't trust--they don't appreciate women. If you don't agree to their
    narrow view of a religion, you'll be whipped in the public square.
    That's their view, and they have tactics to help spread that view. In
    other words, they've got goals. They want to spread that point of view
    throughout the world, starting in the broader Middle East. And part of
    their goal is to drive us out of the broader Middle East, precisely what
    this Zawahiri said. In other words, he's threatening.
        They have come up against a nation that, one, will defend itself.
    Zawahiri is a part of that team that attacked us on September the 11th,
    2001. He was part of an Al Qaida group that said, ``Well, we'll try to
    achieve our objective in attacking America.'' They must not have
    understood the nature of our country. I vowed then that we would stay on
    the offense against these people. We owe it to the American people and
    other freedom-loving countries to bring these killers to justice. And
    that's what they are: They're terrorists, and they're killers. And they
    will kill innocent people, trying to get us to withdraw from the world
    so they can impose their dark vision on the world. That's what they're
    trying to do. And the comments today by Mr. Zawahiri absolutely
    reinforce what I've just told you.
        We will stay the course; we will complete the job in Iraq. And the
    job is this: We'll help the Iraqis develop a democracy. They're
    writing--in the process of writing a constitution, which will be
    ratified in October, and then they will elect a permanent government.
    It's also important for our citizens to understand that progress has
    been made, particularly when 8-plus million people got to vote in the
    face of Zawahiri and Zarqawi and these
    killers.
        We're also training Iraqis. Our troops will come home as soon as
    possible. ``As soon as possible'' means when those Iraqis are prepared
    to fight. As Iraq stands up, our coalition will stand down.
        The Iraqis want to live in a free society. Zawahiri doesn't want
    them to live in a free society. And that's the clash of ideologies,
    freedom versus tyranny. We have had these kinds of clashes before, and
    we have prevailed. We have prevailed because we're right. We have
    prevailed because we adhere to a hopeful philosophy, and we have
    prevailed because we would not falter.
        Go ahead and ask----

    Human Rights in Colombia

        Q. Also the question is for President Bush. Did you talk about the
    necessity and the importance of the creation of international community
    that can verify the application of the justice and peace law and also
    its implementation?
        President Bush. We did talk about human rights. I talked about human
    rights. The Secretary of State Arroz--
    [laughter]--talked about human rights. The President assured us--a
    couple of points that are important to understand--one, that there is an
    independent judiciary, in other words, independent from Government, that
    will adjudicate these disputes; secondly, that there is a new prosecutor
    reporting to the independent judiciary that will follow through on the
    cases; and, thirdly, that he is committed to seeing to it as best as
    possible that progress be made on these cases.
        And we talked about specific cases. And I listened intently and
    believe that he is interested in following through on these cases, so
    that the world will hear loud and clear that Colombia is a nation of law
    and human rights and human dignity.

    [President Uribe answered the question in Spanish, and no translation
    was provided.]

    [[Page 1309]]

        President Bush. Yo le comprendo. Vamos a comer. [Laughter] I told
    him I understood him. We're going to go eat. Thank you very much.
    Appreciate you. Gracias.
        Q. What's on the menu? What's on the menu?
        President Bush. Carne.
        Q. Carne.
        President Bush. Necesito preguntar a mi esposa. I've been thinking
    about business. She's been thinking about the
    food.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 11:47 a.m. at the Bush
    Ranch. In his remarks, he referred to National Aeronautics and Space
    Administration Administrator Sean O'Keefe; Ayman Al-Zawahiri, founder of
    the Egyptian Islamic Jihad and senior Al Qaida associate; senior Al
    Qaida associate Abu Musab Al Zarqawi; and Secretary of State Condoleezza
    Rice. President Uribe referred to Columbia's Ambassador to the U.S. Luis
    Alberto Moreno Mejia, President-elect, Inter-American Development Bank.
    President Uribe spoke in Spanish, and his remarks were translated by an
    interpreter, except where noted above.