    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2005, Book II)]
    [July 6, 2005]
    [Pages 1189-1196]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference With Prime Minister Anders Fogh
    Rasmussen of Denmark in Kongens
    Lyngby, Denmark
    July 6, 2005

        Prime Minister Rasmussen. Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. I am
    delighted to be here today with my good friend, the President of the
    United States. Even more so because you chose to visit us, your friends
    in Denmark, on this very special day, your 59th birthday. So happy
    birthday, Mr. President.
        President Bush. Thank you.
        Prime Minister Rasmussen. We have already celebrated the event in a
    small way with a traditional Danish birthday breakfast, together with
    our families.
        Denmark and the United States have long been close friends and
    allies. We share the same fundamental goals and values. The close
    personal ties between the Danes and the Americans are highlighted every
    year when the biggest Fourth of July celebration outside the United
    States takes place here in Denmark. Thousands of Danish Americans gather
    in the Rebild Hills to manifest not just family ties but also shared
    beliefs. It's our common desire to spread liberty and promote democracy.
    We do not accept the thesis that certain peoples and nations are not yet
    ready for democracy and therefore, better suited for dictatorship. We
    share the belief that freedom is universal, and we share the belief that
    in the struggle between democracy and dictatorship, you cannot stay
    neutral.
        This is why Denmark contributes with more than 500 troops in Iraq,
    why we make an active contribution to the joint allied effort in
    Afghanistan, why we wish to promote democracy and reform in the Middle
    East, and why we urge all parties to find

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    a peaceful solution to the Arab-Israeli conflict.
        On these and other global challenges, the United States needs the
    European Union as a strong and active partner. The present internal
    difficulties must not distract the European Union from its global
    responsibilities.
        Nobody needs a strong and generous Europe more than Africa. As other
    regions progress, Africa remains haunted by poverty, war, and epidemics.
    I feel a strong obligation to focus more on Africa, and I'm going to pay
    an official visit to the region in October. The President and I share
    the view that the upcoming G-8 summit should focus on how to make
    poverty history in Africa. I see five main challenges.
        Firstly, Africa needs to overcome epidemic diseases. AIDS in Africa
    is a fully blown disaster. The Copenhagen Consensus meeting last year
    concluded that combating AIDS should be the world's absolute top
    priority. It is a fight we must win. During the last 4 years, Denmark
    has increased funding for the combat of AIDS with more than 60 percent.
    I urge the G-8 to make a similar extra effort.
        Secondly, Africa needs trade. Free trade and better access to the
    world market provide the means to improve economic growth and fight
    poverty. When trade advances, poverty retreats. The European Union and
    the United States have already granted very generous access to their
    markets for the poorest African countries. We should go further and
    dismantle trade-distorting agricultural subsidies. I urge the G-8 to do
    their part in creating a new, balanced, and fair trade regime to benefit
    Africa.
        Thirdly, Africa needs peace. No peace, no progress. Africans,
    themselves, must prevent conflicts and manage crisis, but we must help
    them to do this. That is why Denmark has developed a new African program
    for peace to support the promising endeavors of the African Union. I
    urge the G-8 to support this program and the peacekeeping efforts of the
    African Union.
        Fourthly, Africa needs more aid--help to self-help. It therefore
    pleases me greatly that you, President Bush, has just announced your
    intention to double American assistance to Africa. Denmark is one of the
    most generous donors, and we're going to focus even more on Africa in
    the future. In fact, if all G-8 countries matched our effort, Africa
    would get $90 billion a year, instead of only 25. I therefore urge all
    G-8 countries to follow our good example.
        And finally, Africa needs better governance. All our aid will come
    to nothing if countries are ruled by corrupt dictators. When aid and
    trade are linked to good policies, more people are lifted out of
    poverty. We should generously reward countries that fight corruption,
    ensure political liberty and economic freedom, invest in health and
    education of their people, and promote women's rights. And we should not
    be afraid to stop aid to dictators like Zimbabwe's Mugabe. I urge the G-
    8 to make no compromise in the demand for good governance.
        We must all join efforts to make poverty history. We must fight
    poverty because human decency requires it, because hope for each
    individual is essential for human dignity. We must take action so that
    despair and darkness can be replaced with hope and light for hundreds of
    millions of people. The ball is in our court. Let us not waste our
    chances. The G-8 should not miss this golden opportunity.
        Mr. President.
        President Bush. Thank you, Mr. Prime Minister. Thanks for the
    birthday breakfast. I would strongly recommend the Danish birthday cake.
    [Laughter] I am really honored to be here in Copenhagen. I appreciate
    your friendship, and I appreciate the friendship the Danish people have
    for my country, and vice versa.
        Denmark is a close ally and a partner of the United States. Mr.
    Prime Minister, America values its longstanding relationship

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    with Denmark, and that's why I've come. I've come to reaffirm my
    Nation's respect for Denmark and our ties that bind us forever and the
    fact that we share common values. I've also come because I want to let
    the people know how much I admire your leadership and your character and
    your vision.
        I appreciate your nation's support in advancing freedom in Eastern
    Europe and the broader Middle East and around the world. We are grateful
    for your understanding and the people's understanding that freedom is a
    universal right and that as we promote freedom and democracy, we'll lay
    the foundation for peace for generations to come. Under your leadership,
    Mr. Prime Minister, your commitment has been steadfast and strong in the
    fight against terror.
        You know, for some in Europe, September the 11th was a tragic date,
    a terrible moment. For me and many in the American public, September the
    11th was a change of attitude, a recognition that we're involved with a
    global war against ideological extremists who will kill the innocent in
    order to achieve their objectives.
        I want to thank you very much for your steadfast support for freedom
    and peace in Afghanistan and Iraq. I particularly want to thank the
    loved ones, the family members of the troops stationed abroad for the
    sake of peace and freedom, for their sacrifice. I know many miss their
    loved ones, and I know how hard it is for families during times of
    deployment. And I appreciate them very much. I also want to thank you
    very much for being such a key contributor to our common security within
    NATO.
        You know, one of the interesting initiatives that we worked together
    on, and I don't think a lot of people pay attention to, is what's called
    the Proliferation Security Initiative. It's a group of free nations that
    have bound together to help interdict the transport of weapons of mass
    destruction. One of the most harmful aspects of the war on terror could
    be if these killers were able to gain weapons of mass destruction, which
    in my mind--no doubt in my mind, they'd use on a moment's notice. And
    the Proliferation Security Initiative is an attempt by free countries to
    prevent the spread of weapons of mass destruction. And you've played a
    leading role.
        We've had a great discussion today. We talked about the upcoming G-8
    meeting. We talked about Africa and climate change. As well, we talked
    about Guantanamo. The Prime Minister is concerned about what the
    situation on Guantanamo says about America and our view of liberty. Let
    me tell you what I told him. I said, ``First, the prisoners are well-
    treated in Guantanamo. There's total transparency. The International Red
    Cross can inspect any time, any day. And you're welcome to go.'' The
    press, of course, is welcome to go down to Guantanamo.
        Secondly, we have sent many home. These people were picked up on the
    battlefield. They didn't wear uniforms. They weren't associated with a
    government, but they were on the battlefield. And so we put them in
    Guantanamo. We wanted to find out as much as we could about what they
    knew about this war on terror, in order to protect our citizens. Many,
    it turned out, were sent home.
        Thirdly, I assured the Prime Minister there's got to be a way
    forward for people held in Guantanamo, and there will be. The reason why
    you haven't seen any adjudication of individuals is because our court
    system is determining where best to try people, whether it be in a
    military tribunal where a person would have all--lawyers and rights or
    whether it be in the civilian courts. And once the judicial branch of
    our Government makes its decision, then we'll proceed forward, giving
    people fair and open trials.
        I just want you to remember we are in a war against these
    terrorists. My most solemn obligation is to protect the American people
    from further attack. These people are being treated humanely. There's
    very

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    few prison systems around the world that have seen such scrutiny as this
    one. And for those of you here on the continent of Europe who have
    doubt, I'd suggest buying an airplane ticket and going down and look--
    take a look for yourself.
        We also talked about Africa. I told the Prime Minister I was proud
    of my country's tripling of aid to Africa since I've been the President.
    And as he mentioned, I proposed to double aid to Africa once again.
        Our primary focus in Africa is going to be to focus efforts on
    solving people's problems. They've got a problem in HIV/AIDS, and we're
    leading the world when it comes to contributions--along with Denmark, by
    the way--in making sure antiretroviral drugs get to people who need help
    and helping set up an infrastructure so that prevention programs begin
    to work and follow up with programs that will help the orphans of HIV/
    AIDS families. Denmark has put a robust effort in place, as had the
    United States, and I'm proud of our efforts.
        Over a million people die of malaria on the continent of Africa on
    an annual basis, most of whom are under 5 years old. This is a problem
    we can solve. I laid out an initiative the other day for $1.2 billion to
    help eradicate the scourges of malaria on the continent of Africa. This
    is an area where we can work together. And I agree strongly with what
    the Prime Minister said: We expect there to be good governance on the
    continent of Africa. I don't know how we can look our taxpayers in the
    eye and say, ``This is a good deal, to give money to countries that are
    corrupt.'' What we're interested in, in our countries, is helping
    people, and therefore, we have said that we'll give aid, absolutely.
    We'll cancel debt--you bet--but we want to make sure that the
    governments invest in their people, invest in the health of their
    people, the education of their people, and fight corruption.
        And then we talked about climate change as well. I'm looking forward
    to going to the G-8. Listen, I recognize that the surface of the Earth
    is warmer and that an increase in greenhouse gases caused by humans is
    contributing to the problem. Kyoto didn't work for the United States,
    and it, frankly, didn't work for the world. The reason it didn't work
    for the world is many developing nations weren't included in Kyoto.
        I've also told our friends in Europe that Kyoto would have wrecked
    our economy. I don't see how you can be President of the United States
    and sign and agree to an agreement that would have put a lot of people
    out of work. See, I think there's a better way forward. I would call it
    the post-Kyoto era, where we can work together to share technologies, to
    control greenhouse gases as best as possible.
        Listen, the United States, for national security reasons and
    economic security reasons, needs to diversify away from fossil fuels.
    And so we've put out a strategy to do just that, and I can't wait to
    share with our G-8 friends, just like I shared with the Prime Minister,
    our strategy. We spent about over $20 billion last year on research and
    development on new technologies that we are willing to share with the
    world.
        There's no doubt in my mind that we'll be driving a different kind
    of automobile within a reasonable period of time, one powered by
    hydrogen. And the Prime Minister is most interested in this subject, and
    I look forward to sharing technologies, not only with our G-8 friends
    but also with countries like India and China, who will be at the G-8.
        I want to thank you again, Mr. Prime Minister, for being such a
    steadfast person. You know, a lot of times people in politics chase
    opinion polls. I don't know if you poll this much in Denmark. We poll
    way too much in America, it seems like to me. [Laughter] It's a growth
    industry. [Laughter] What I appreciate is a leader who has a vision and
    the strength of character to do what he thinks is right, and that's what
    your Prime Minister has done. I'm proud

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    to call him friend. And thanks for hosting me today.
        Prime Minister Rasmussen. Thank you, Mr. President.
        And we are ready to answer some questions from Danish side, from
    American side.

    War on Terror

        Q. Thank you. Mr. President, you are visiting a country which you
    call a close ally and a partner. You're visiting a man whom you call
    your friend, and you just said you admire him and you are grateful for
    his support. Yet, I know you don't like the polls, but when you look at
    the opinion polls, when you look at what the public, the Danish people
    say, they don't quite agree with this strong support. They don't quite
    agree with your policies. One opinion poll said, less than 20 percent--
    over the weekend, said less than 20 percent support your foreign policy.
    Now, this is your chance--I'm sure you think what you're doing is right.
    This is your chance to tell these people, say something to convince them
    that you are right. What are you going to say to them?
        President Bush. Well, I appreciate that. You just made my point
    about relying on polls. But that's fine, I mean, that's the current
    wisdom these days.
        Look, we are laying the foundation for peace. Democracies don't war
    with each other. There is a debate going on around the world about the
    nature of this war on terror. I readily concede, some think it's just a
    law enforcement matter. I believe we're in for an ideological struggle.
    I believe the people that cause such great harm, not only in America but
    in other spots around the world, have an ideology that is vastly
    different from our ideology, one that's based upon human rights, freedom
    of religion, the ability for people to express themselves in the public
    square without fear of reprisal. And they use tactics that are trying to
    drive us from the world. They will kill on a moment's notice. They kill
    innocent women and children because they want to shake our will. That's
    what they're trying to do, and they have objectives. Their objective is
    to topple government. Their objective is to control. They use power, and
    we just can't let them do that.
        And so I understand people aren't going to agree with decisions I
    make, but my job is to make decisions that I think are right and to
    lead. You know, I tell the American press corps all the time, following
    public polls is like chasing your tail, a dog chasing a tail. I truly
    believe we're laying the foundation for peace. I know the only way to
    defeat this ideology is with a better ideology, based upon freedom and
    human rights and dignity--human dignity. And it's--it hasn't been an
    easy period of time for a lot of people. I know that, but I feel
    strongly in my heart of hearts that the decisions we have made will make
    it easier for our grandchildren to look back at this point--to grow up
    in a peaceful--and look back and say, ``Thank goodness these people had
    the courage of their convictions.''
        Tom [Tom Raum, Associated Press].

    Upcoming Supreme Court Nomination

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. If I can ask you about a very important
    nomination you have to make back at home----
        President Bush. Yes.
        Q. You said you'd have a----
        President Bush. This is the Supreme Court nomination.
        Q. This is the Supreme Court nomination. You said you would fill it
    by October, by the new term of the Court. But would you consider
    delaying up until that point as much as possible to minimize the
    opposition's massive campaign against your choice? And when you do sit
    down and actually talk to prospective nominees, what kind of questions
    will you ask them?
        President Bush. Thanks, Tom. The--first of all, I want the person
    confirmed and sitting by the time the Court meets again in October.
    And--in other words, that's the

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    backstop, and we'll work backwards to determine what is best for the
    Senate calendar to get the hearing and to get the vote, up or down, on
    the floor of the Senate.
        Secondly, I've begun the review process of prospective candidates.
    On Air Force One, flying over, I've been reading about the different
    backgrounds and different opinions and different attitudes of the
    prospective nominees. As you know, I'm not a lawyer, thankfully.
    [Laughter] And so I will let my legal experts deal with the
    ramifications of legal opinions. I'll talk to people about just--I'll
    try to assess their character, their interests. I'm looking forward to
    the review process, the interview process as well.
        When I first get back, I will consult with Members of the Senate--I
    have done so far; our staff continues to do so--and then I'll begin the
    interview process.

    Africa

        Q. Mr. President, when will you extend the fight for freedom and
    democracy to the African Continent? And could that involve use of
    military power, and if so, a new coalition of the willing, maybe
    including Danish forces?
        Last part of the question is for the Prime Minister.
        President Bush. Go ahead. Do you want to ask him the question first,
    before I finish? Okay--you said African Continent? Our attitude is that
    the best way for the African Continent to be peaceful and to resolve
    disputes is to have African troops do the work. The Prime Minister is
    right in calling for more training for peacekeepers. As a matter of
    fact, America has strongly thought that was the best way to go forward,
    and I think we promoted this concept at the last G-8.
        I'm sure you're aware that the Sudan has been of great interest for
    my Government. As a matter of fact, thanks to the good efforts of former
    Secretary of State Colin Powell and
    Ambassador Jack Danforth, we actually
    negotiated a treaty between north and south that we're now in the
    process of implementing. And then, of course, Darfur broke out. And
    we've been greatly concerned about the human suffering--as a matter of
    fact, I believe the only nation thus far to call the conditions there
    genocide.
        And we've been deeply involved in providing, first, aid, but also a
    strategy that will help calm the situation down so that there can be a
    settlement, a peaceful settlement of the situation. And that requires
    the transportation of African Union forces. I believe we're going to go
    from about--the world, that is--is going to go from 2,200 African Union
    forces to 7,100 African Union forces. The United States, in working with
    NATO and the EU, will be providing airlift capacity to help get those
    troops on the ground. The other day I announced that we're going to work
    with the folks on the ground there to help construct new camps so that
    the refugees will have better conditions.
        The whole idea is to, one, get aid to people as quickly as possible,
    so as to prevent any mass starvation and, secondly, get a political
    settlement moving forward. But no, the best way to deal with dispute and
    the civil war that make it awfully hard for the human condition to
    improve on the continent is for African nations to be trained and
    equipped and prepared to do the job.
        You've got a question for him? Give him a question.
        Prime Minister Rasmussen. Yes, the last part of it. We have engaged
    ourselves in peacekeeping missions in Africa. We have provided funds for
    the African Union to enable the Africans to prevent and manage crisis
    themselves. And we will pursue that strategy in the future.
        President Bush. Reuters man, Toby [Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters].
    Woman--excuse me. I can see that. [Laughter] So how long have you been
    on the Presidential beat?

    [[Page 1195]]

        Q. Since February.
        President Bush. Yes. Well, make yourself less scarce.

    Upcoming Supreme Court Nomination

        Q. I also wanted to ask you a question about your Supreme Court
    nomination.
        President Bush. Here I am, trying to talk to the people of Denmark,
    and you're asking me about local news. That's fine.
        Q. What do you think of the criticism of Attorney General Gonzales
    as a potential nominee? And will there be a litmus test on abortion and
    gay marriage when you consider your choice?
        President Bush. Thanks. First of all, as I said during both of my
    campaigns, there will be no litmus test. I'll pick people who, one, can
    do the job, people who are honest, people who are bright, and people who
    will strictly interpret the Constitution and not use the bench to
    legislate from. That's what I campaigned on, and that's what I'm going
    to do.
        She's referring to the fact that my Attorney General, longtime friend, a guy who was my--close when I
    was the Governor of Texas, came up to Washington with me as part of the
    movement of Texans south to north during the Government. He's been my
    lawyer in the White House. He's now the Attorney General. He's under--
    he's being criticized. I don't like it when a friend gets criticized.
    I'm loyal to my friends. And all of a sudden this fellow, who is a good
    public servant and a really fine person, is under fire. And so, do I
    like it? No, I don't like it at all.
        I look forward to making the pick. And I look forward to doing what
    I said I was going to do when it comes to making that pick. This is a
    very important selection, and I understand its importance. I will take
    my time. I will be thorough in my investigation. My staff has already
    done a lot of work. They continue to work today, not only in reaching
    out to the Senate but also spending time making sure that all the
    candidates will be put forward in a proper way.
        The other thing about this debate is, I hope the United States
    Senate conducts themselves in a way that brings dignity to the process
    and that the Senators don't listen to the special interest groups,
    particularly those on the extremes that are trying to exploit this
    opportunity for not only their--what they may think is right but also
    for their own fundraising capabilities. The Senate needs to conduct
    themselves in a dignified way and have a good, honest debate about the
    credentials of the person I have put forward, no matter who he or she
    is, and then give the person an up-or-down vote. That's how the process
    ought to work.
        And so this is an opportunity for good public servants to exhibit a
    civil discourse on a very important matter and not let these groups,
    these money-raising groups, these special interest groups, these groups
    outside the process dictate the rhetoric, the tone. And I'm confident
    the Senators, most Senators want to conduct themselves this way.
        It will be a really interesting moment, and I'm sure you're
    interested in watching the process, for those of you in the Danish
    press. It's going to be quite an interesting exercise in democracy. I
    just hope that the people responsible for hearing--holding the hearings
    and voting up or down are able to have a civil discourse. It would be
    good for the country; it would be good for people's understanding of how
    democracy works.
        Listen, Her Majesty is fixing to host
    a lunch, for which I am grateful. Thank you all for coming. Thank you,
    Prime Minister.
        Prime Minister Rasmussen. Thank you very much.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 10:02 a.m. in the
    Marienborg. In his remarks, he referred to Queen Margrethe II of
    Denmark. Prime Minister Rasmussen referred to President Robert Mugabe of
    Zimbabwe.

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