    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [July 19, 2005]
    [Pages 1240-1246]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister John Howard of Australia
    July 19, 2005

        President Bush. Thank you all. Laura and I
    are honored to welcome Prime Minister John Howard and Janette back to the White House. We're really glad you're
    here. We're looking forward to having, this time, a true family lunch
    upstairs. It's a chance to--for two old friends, friends who happen to
    be old--[laughter]--to visit and to talk and to strategize and to think
    aloud about how to work together.
        I got to tell you, I admire John Howard a lot. He's a man of
    conviction. He's got backbone. He's not afraid to make the hard
    decision. He's not afraid to lead, and we're

    [[Page 1241]]

    really thrilled you're here. Plus, he married well. [Laughter]
        I appreciate a man of vision. I am looking forward to working with
    him in his fourth term in office, for the betterment of our own people
    and for the betterment of the world.
        Australia and the United States share a commitment to freedom. We
    understand we compete against an ideology of hatred, an ideology that
    murders the innocent in order to achieve objectives. We know we must be
    steadfast and strong when it comes to bringing to justice those who
    would kill innocent life, like those who got killed in New York City and
    Washington, DC, and Bali and London and other places around the world.
    But we also understand that to defeat an ideology, you've got to have a
    better ideology, and we do, one based upon human rights and human
    dignity, minority rights, and freedom.
        And the thing I appreciate about John Howard is he understands that.
    I appreciate the commitment of the Australian Government to help in the
    democracy movements in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We had a good talk
    today about the way forward in Iraq. I assured him that our position is
    one that says, ``As the Iraqis stand up, America stands down.'' In other
    words, we're going to help Iraqis to defend themselves and, at the same
    time, promote a political process that will lead to a constitution--a
    validation of the constitution and permanent elections. We talked as
    well about Afghanistan and how important it is for a country like
    Afghanistan to show the world what is possible when it comes to
    democratic institutions and freedom.
        I appreciated the Prime Minister's strong advice about Malaysia and
    Indonesia, two really important countries. And John Howard has got a lot
    of experience with the leaders in those countries as well as the
    political process in the countries. And it's always good to visit with a
    friend about how he sees the world.
        We talked about China and North Korea. I told him that we're
    committed to solving the North Korean nuclear issue in a diplomatic way
    and that we're pleased that the six-party talks has become renewed and
    that we're sincere about working with China and South Korea and Japan
    and Russia to bring some common sense to the leader of North Korea.
        We talked about the benefits of the free trade agreement we signed:
    Our economies are strong and that trade will help our economies stay
    strong and that free trade and fair trade is important for the working
    people in both our countries and that we're dedicated to making sure the
    next round of the WTO goes forward.
        All in all, we had a really good discussion, the kind of discussion
    you'd expect from friends. And we're looking forward to continuing it
    over lunch.
        John, welcome.
        Prime Minister Howard. Thank you very much, George. And I say to
    you, Mr. President, and to your wife, Laura, thank you very much for the
    great hospitality that you've extended to Janette and to me.
        This is not only a close relationship between Australia and the
    United States but it is a shared commitment by two peoples who have so
    much history and so much in the way of common values as a basis for the
    relationship.
        Australia and the United States have never been closer than they are
    at the present time. But the reason that we are so close is that we are
    engaged together in quite a struggle against some forces and elements of
    evil around the world that threaten not only the people of our countries
    but also the people of other nations.
        Terrorists indiscriminately murder people irrespective of their
    race, their nationality, their religion, their political party, or their
    political belief. And those who doubt that, I invite them to look at the
    casualty lists of the London Underground and the bus. You will find not
    55 people of Anglo-Celtic-Protestant composition, but you will find

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    55 people of different races, different ethnicities, different
    attitudes, and different beliefs. And I say that to encapsulate the view
    that I hold very strongly, that to see this as some kind of struggle
    between the West and the rest is to completely misunderstand and
    completely misread what's involved.
        I want to thank the President and the Congress of the United States
    for the support that was given so generously to the passage of the free
    trade agreement legislation. It passed through the two Houses of the
    American Congress with, I think, record majorities. And I believe that
    the economic association between Australia and the United States will be
    more important to Australia as the years go by, particularly in the area
    of services, where, because of the commonalities we share in language
    and legal systems and in so many other areas, the opportunities are
    going to be very much greater.
        The President and I had a very extensive discussion about the
    involvement of both of our countries in the Asian-Pacific region, about
    the critical importance of Indonesia, the third largest democracy in the
    world, the largest Islamic country in the world, and a nation whose
    success is immensely important to the ideological and intellectual
    debate in relation to terrorism, because if Indonesia is a success
    story, it can be held up as an example to the rest of the Islamic world
    that the path forward, the path to prosperity and stability, is a path
    away from hatred and extremism and a path of moderation.
        Can I say to you, Mr. President, that the personal relationship that
    we have established on behalf of our two countries means a great deal to
    me. But it is, as you rightly say, based on a common view of the world,
    that individual freedom is still the greatest glue that nations and
    peoples can have, that societies that honor the family as the most
    stabilizing influence in our community and also societies that recognize
    that the basis of national wealth is individual wealth built on
    competitive capitalism.
        Not everybody in our two countries would entirely share every part
    of that statement of my philosophical beliefs, but I'm happy to say that
    in both countries, a sufficient number of people--[laughter]--in recent
    times have shared those views to put smiles on both our faces.
    [Laughter] And I must say, on a somewhat partisan note, how much I
    enjoyed my discussion with you on the night of the 9th of October of
    last year and, equally, the opportunity I have of congratulating you on
    your remarkable victory, which--after an election campaign that I
    followed with enormous interest. I come here as a friend of the United
    States. I come here as the leader of 20 million people who are
    committed, as you are, to the great causes of individual liberty and
    freedom. And together we can work to make a better world.
        President Bush. We'll answer two questions apiece. Jennifer
    [Jennifer Loven, Associated Press].

    Upcoming Supreme Court Nomination

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Can you tell us, as you consider
    Supreme Court nominees, how important it is to you to replace Justice
    O'Connor with another woman? And can you bring us up to date on whether
    you've completed interviewing candidates?
        President Bush. First, I'm comfortable with where we are in the
    process. That's important for you to know. Secondly, that I have thought
    about a variety of people, people from different walks of life, some of
    whom I've known before, some of whom I had never met before. I'm trying
    to figure out what else I can say that I didn't say yesterday that
    sounds profound to you without--without actually answering your
    question. [Laughter]
        As I say, I do have an obligation to think about people from
    different backgrounds but who share the same philosophy, people who will
    not legislate from the bench.

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    That's what I told the people when I ran for President. I want to be
    known as the kind of person who does what he says he's going to do and--
    because I believe it's right. And so, I guess the best way to put it is,
    I'll let you know when I'm ready to tell you who it is.
        John, go ahead, ask--want to call on some----

    Iraq

        Q. Dennis Shanahan, The Australian. Mr. President, Mr. Prime
    Minister, before the invasion of Iraq, Mr. Howard said that our troops
    would be there for months, not years. It is now years. Realistically,
    how long can the Australian people expect our troops to be in Iraq and
    Afghanistan? Is it, now, more years?
        President Bush. Well, first, I think, if you're going to ask how
    long the Australian troops will stay, you ought to ask the person who
    decides where the Australian troops go in the first place. I can tell
    you about the American troops, and that is that they'll be there as long
    as necessary to complete the mission.
        There's a great temptation to get me or John to put a timetable on
    our actions there. That doesn't make any sense. Why would you tell the
    enemy how long you're going to stay somewhere? Why would you--it just
    doesn't--we're at war, and during a war, you do the best you can to win
    the war, and one way to embolden an enemy is to give them an artificial
    timetable. I'm sure probably--timetables need to be asked--I get asked
    about timetables all the time here. And--but the answer is, when the
    Iraqis are ready to do the fighting themselves. And that's happening on
    a steady basis, and they're taking more and more of the fight to the
    enemy.
        And, like, I'm sure in Australia, people in America want to know
    when the troops are coming home--and as quickly as possible, but we've
    got to complete the mission. The mission is really important. We're
    laying the foundation for peace. A free Iraq, a democratic Iraq in the
    heart of the Middle East is a part of a vision that understands free
    societies are peaceful societies.
        We're fighting an ideology, and the way you defeat an ideology that
    is so backward, so evil, and so hated they kill innocent men and women
    regardless of religion, is to spread freedom. And that's why it's
    important we complete the mission in Iraq.
        Prime Minister Howard. Dennis, I did make that statement, and I made
    it in a particular context, which I'm sure you will recall. I'm not
    going to try and put a time limit on our commitment in Iraq. I'm not. It
    will be governed by circumstances, rather than by the calendar, to
    borrow an expression you may have heard yesterday when I was at the
    Pentagon. I thought it was a very good expression, and that's why--and I
    won't plagiarize it; I'll acknowledge the source--that is why I use it.
        But I believe that progress is being made. I think we do face a
    situation where, because of the horror of suicide bombing, there is a
    constant high level of publicity, understandably, given to that, and to
    the detriment of the progress that is being made at a political level. I
    mean, nothing can answer and deny the fact that 8 million people risked
    their lives to vote. Now, that is a stunning personal commitment to
    democracy that Australians haven't been required to do in my lifetime
    or, indeed, the average American citizen, either. Now, I think we have
    to pay some regard to that. And that is a cause worth fighting for, and
    it's a cause worth promoting and supporting.
        Now, the great burden in Iraq is being carried by the United States,
    and I feel very deeply for the American people the burden they are
    carrying. I also pay tribute to the burden that's being carried by the
    British. Our commitment is significant, but obviously, it's much smaller
    than that of those two countries. But we will stay the distance in Iraq.
    We won't go until the job has been finished, and you've heard

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    me say that before. That's been my view for a long time, and it will
    remain my view.
        President Bush. Caren [Caren Bohan, Reuters].

    Disclosure of CIA Employee's Identity

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. In light of the concerns that the CIA
    leak investigation is distracting from your agenda, has Mr. Rove or any
    of your aides offered their resignation? And what, short of a crime,
    constitutes a firing offense?
        President Bush. You know, I appreciate you bringing that up. My
    answer really hasn't changed--[laughter]--from 24 hours ago. It's the
    same answer. Now, I'll be glad to answer another question if you've got
    one. I--I mean, I'll be glad to repeat what I said yesterday, which is,
    there's an ongoing investigation, and people shouldn't jump to
    conclusions in the press until the investigation is over. And once the
    investigation is over, I'll deal with it.
        Have you got another question? I don't want to shortchange you on
    a----

    Upcoming Supreme Court Nomination

        Q. I do, actually. [Laughter] What do you think of Edith Clement?
        President Bush. Pardon me?
        Q. What do you think of Edith Clement for the Court?
        President Bush. Oh, well, I think it's important--let me refer you
    back to the first question. [Laughter]
        Q. Can she have one more? [Laughter]
        President Bush. I don't know, the Prime Minister is a friend. Why
    would I subject him to--no. [Laughter] Do you speak French? [Laughter]
    It's unfair I get the last word at the mike. It's all inside--I'm sorry.
    Please.

    China

        Q. Mark Riley from the Seven Network in Australia. Can I ask you
    both, please, for your view on China in the coming period? It seems that
    Australia views China principally as an economic opportunity. And we
    read increasingly that the U.S. sees it as an emerging military
    challenge, particularly in light of the comments made by General Zhu,
    just recently, about the possibility of a nuclear response over Taiwan.
    What I want to ask you particularly is what role you both see Australia
    playing in managing that emerging relationship?
        President Bush. It's a great question. Thanks for asking it. Our
    relationship--let me start with our relationship with China. It is a
    complicated relationship. We obviously have an economic relationship
    with China. That's an important relationship. Our exports to China are
    increasing. If you're a soybean farmer in America, you're really pleased
    with the fact that the Chinese market is open for our soybeans.
        China is a--I think it's in the world's interest that China grow an
    open market economy. I think open markets and free economies tend to
    cause people to demand additional freedoms. So it's in our economic
    interests, and I think it's in the world's interest that we encourage
    free and fair trade.
        We have some difficulties on the trade front with China. One such
    difficulty is their currency, and we've worked with China to convince
    them that it makes sense for them to change how they value their
    currency.
        A second difficulty is on intellectual property rights. It's very
    important for emerging economies to understand that they--in order to be
    a fair trading partner, that you've got to honor somebody else's
    intellectual property. And sometimes that's a hard concept for countries
    to understand. And so we're working very closely on that issue with
    China. By the way, that's the same message that Australia gives, and so
    there's one area where Australia and the United States can work together
    to help convince China that intellectual property rights are important.
        We have a diplomatic relationship with China, obviously. And that's
    manifested in the recent six-party talks in North Korea.

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    I view it very important that China be an equal partner in those talks.
    We've got the capacity to bring something to the table when it's--in
    discussions with North Korea, and so does China. And therefore,
    diplomatically, we have an opportunity to affect world security and to
    make sure that the ultimate objective of the terrorists is not achieved,
    and that is the spread of weapons of mass destruction, for example.
    These are areas where we can cooperate and work hard.
        We've got areas of issues when it comes to values. For example, I
    happen to believe religious freedom is very important for any society
    and that people ought to be allowed to worship freely--worship any way
    they see fit. Every time I've met with the Chinese leaders, I've, in a
    respectful way, shared with them the importance, I feel, for a healthy
    society to recognize that people think differently and worship
    differently and, therefore, ought to be encouraged to do so. And so our
    relationship is very important and very vibrant. It's a good
    relationship, but it's a complex relationship.
        I think that Australia, first of all, has got to act in her own
    interests. And there's no doubt in my mind the Prime Minister will do
    that. Secondly, though, that we can work together to reinforce the need
    for China to accept certain values as universal, the value of minority
    rights, the value of freedom for people to speak, the value of freedom
    of religion, the same values we share.
        Secondly, I know that Australia can lend a wise message to the
    Chinese about the need for China to take an active role in the
    neighborhood to prevent, for example, Kim Chong-il from developing a nuclear weapon. We've got a lot of
    common interests, and it's when those common interests and common values
    intersect, is where we can reinforce each other's message.
        Prime Minister Howard. Mark, I think your question is based on a
    misapprehension shared by a number of people in Australia, and that is
    that we are trying to manage a relationship we have with two countries
    where some kind of conflict between those two countries is inevitable,
    and I'm not as pessimistic as that. I am a lot more optimistic for the
    reasons I outlined in the speech I delivered to the Lowy Institute a few
    months ago in Australia.
        We have different relationships with the United States and China. I
    mean, of course, our relationship with the United States is closer and
    deeper than it is with China, because it's a relationship that is based
    upon shared values and a lot of shared history. The Chinese understand
    that. I think one of the bases--the basis of our relationship
    successfully with China over the last 8 or 9 years is that I have never
    disguised that fact in my discussions with the Chinese, and I've
    encouraged them to accept that our close defense alliance with the
    United States is not in any way directed against China.
        But we have a good relationship with China. It's not just based on
    economic opportunity. There are a lot of people-to-people ties between
    Australia and China, and they're growing all the time. We are going to
    differ with China on human rights issues. You've seen recently, in the
    debate over Mr. Chen, you've seen an expression of views from China. But
    equally, I think the relationship between our two countries is mature
    enough to ride through temporary arguments such as that. I think China
    sees a growing place for herself in the world, but I think there's a
    great level of pragmatism in the Chinese leadership.
        Now, the economic relationship between Australia and China is
    different from the economic relationship between the United States and
    China. And I understand that, and the President and I talked about that
    today. But I have a more optimistic view about the relationship between
    China and the United States, and I know that the leadership of both
    countries understands the importance of common sense in relation to
    Taiwan, a recognition that there are

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    differences of philosophy between the two societies.
        But let us not look at this issue from an Australia vantage point,
    from believing that there's some inevitable dust-up going to occur. I
    don't believe that, and I share a great deal of optimism that that is
    going to be prevented. From Australia's point of view, well, we don't
    presume any kind of intermediary role. That would be absurd. We have
    relationships with the United States, which I've talked about and
    categorized in an unambiguous way. Everybody understands the centrality
    of that relationship to Australia. The Chinese understand it. But we are
    unashamed in developing our relations with China, and I am well pleased
    with the way the economic relationship has developed. And I'll continue
    to do everything I can in the interests of Australia to ensure that it
    develops further.
        President Bush. Good job, John. Thank you.
        Thank you all.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 11:53 a.m. in the East
    Room at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Janette Howard,
    wife of Prime Minister Howard; and Chairman Kim Chong-il of North Korea.
    Prime Minister Howard referred to former Chinese diplomat Chen Yonglin,
    who was granted a permanent protection visa by Australia on July 8.
    Reporters referred to Edith Brown Clement, U.S. Circuit Judge for the
    Fifth Circuit; and Maj. Gen. Zhu Chenghu of China, dean, China's
    National Defense University.