    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2006, Book I)]
    [January 1, 2006]
    [Pages 1-3]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1]]

    Remarks to Reporters Following a Visit With United States Troops and an
    Exchange With Reporters in San Antonio, Texas
    January 1, 2006

        The President. Happy New Year to you all. Thanks. I can't think of a
    better way to start 2006 than here at this fantastic hospital, a
    hospital that's full of healers and compassionate people who care deeply
    about our men and women in uniform. It's also full of courageous young
    soldiers, marines, airmen--men and women--who are serving our country
    and making great sacrifice. I'm just overwhelmed by the great strength
    of character of not only those who have been wounded but of their loved
    ones as well. And so, thank you all for bringing great credit to our
    country.
        As you can probably see, I have injured myself, not here at the
    hospital but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. The cedar gave me
    a little bit of a scratch. As a matter of fact, the colonel asked if I needed first aid when she first saw me. I
    was able to avoid any major surgical operations here, but thanks for
    your compassion, Colonel.
        I've been thinking long and hard about 2006. My hopes, of course,
    are for peace around the world. I'll continue to work as hard as I can
    to lay that foundation for peace. And also my hope is that this country
    remains as prosperous as it was in 2005. We had a very strong economy,
    and we'll work to keep the economy as strong as it possibly can, so
    anybody that wants to find a job can find one.
        With that, I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Toby
    [Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters]--or, excuse me, Deb. You are Deb [Deb
    Riechmann, Associated Press], right?

    Terrorist Surveillance Program

        Q. Yes, sir. Mr. President, were you aware of any resistance to the
    launching of the NSA program at high levels of your administration, and
    if so, how did that influence your decision to approve it?
        The President. First of all, the NSA program is an important program
    in protecting America. We're at war, and as the Commander in Chief, I've
    got to use the resources at my disposal, within the law, to protect the
    American people. And that's what we're doing.
        The NSA program is one that listens to a few numbers, called from
    the outside of the United States in, of known Al Qaida or affiliate
    people. In other words, the enemy is calling somebody, and we want to
    know who they're calling and why. And that seems to make sense to me, as
    the Commander in Chief, if my job is to protect the American people.
        This program has been reviewed, constantly reviewed, by people
    throughout my administration. And it still is reviewed. It has got--not
    only has it been reviewed by Justice Department officials, it's been
    reviewed by Members of the United States Congress. It's a vital,
    necessary program.
        Now, some say, ``Well, maybe this isn't a war. Maybe this is just a
    law enforcement operation.'' I strongly disagree. We're at war with an
    enemy that wants to hurt us again, and the American people expect the
    Commander in Chief to protect them, and that's exactly what I intend to
    do.
        Toby.

    [[Page 2]]

    U.S. Troop Levels in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, as we start the new year, what is your outlook for
    U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq in 2006?
        The President. The conditions on the ground will dictate our force
    level. As the Iraqis are able to take more of the fight to the enemy,
    our commanders on the ground will be able to make a different assessment
    about the troop strength. And I'm going to continue to rely upon those
    commanders, such as General Casey, who
    is doing a fabulous job and whose judgment I trust, and that will
    determine--his recommendations will determine the number of troops we
    have on the ground in Iraq.

    Terrorist Surveillance Program

        Q. In 2004, when you were doing an event about the PATRIOT Act, in
    your remarks you had said that any wiretapping required a court order
    and that nothing had changed. Given that we now know you had prior
    approval for this NSA program, were you in any way misleading?
        The President. I was talking about roving wiretaps, I believe,
    involved in the PATRIOT Act. This is different from the NSA program. The
    NSA program is a necessary program. I was elected to protect the
    American people from harm. And on September the 11th, 2001, our Nation
    was attacked. And after that day, I vowed to use all the resources at my
    disposal, within the law, to protect the American people, which is what
    I have been doing and will continue to do. And the fact that somebody
    leaked this program causes great harm to the United States.
        There's an enemy out there. They read newspapers. They listen to
    what you write. They listen to what you put on the air, and they react.
    And it seems logical to me that if we know there's a phone number
    associated with Al Qaida and/or an Al Qaida affiliate and they're making
    phone calls, it makes sense to find out why. They attacked us before;
    they will attack us again if they can. And we're going to do everything
    we can to stop them.
        Yes, Ed [Edwin Chen, Los Angeles Times].
        Q. Mr. President, with this program, though, what can you say to
    those members of the public that are worried about violations of their
    privacy?
        The President. Ed, I can say that if somebody from Al Qaida is
    calling you, we'd like to know why. In the meantime, this program is
    conscious of people's civil liberties, as am I. This is a limited
    program designed to prevent attacks on the United States of America. And
    I repeat, limited. And it's limited to calls from outside the United
    States to calls within the United States. But they are of known--numbers
    of known Al Qaida members or affiliates. I think most Americans
    understand the need to find out what the enemy is thinking, and that's
    what we're doing.
        We're at war with a bunch of coldblooded killers who will kill on a
    moment's notice. And I have a responsibility, obviously, to act within
    the law, which I am doing. It's a program that's been reviewed
    constantly by Justice Department officials, a program to which the
    Congress has been briefed, and a program that is, in my judgment,
    necessary to win this war and to protect the American people.
        Last question. Mike [Mike Allen, Time].

    U.S. Troops Wounded in Iraq

        Q. Mr. President, in August you said that Katrina could--the effects
    of it could test the strongest faith. I'm sure of some of the things
    that you saw today, that's the case as well. What do you tell a young
    soldier or his young wife about how a loving God could permit or cause
    some of the things you saw today?
        The President. First of all, Mike, I'm conscious not to be trying to
    substitute myself for God. I am, on the other hand, inspired by the mom
    who told me upstairs that she prays every day and believes in the
    miracle of healing, that I think we see God's work

    [[Page 3]]

    here every day. I think when you find nurses and doctors who work around
    the clock, who come in at a moment's notice to save a life, I happen to
    believe there's a lot of divine inspiration to that kind of dedication
    and work. The parents I saw or the wives I saw, many of them were in
    prayer on a regular basis for their loved one.
        And, you know, war is terrible. There's horrible consequences to
    war; that's what you see in this building. On the other hand, we also
    see people who say, ``I'd like to go back in, Mr. President.'' What
    we're doing is the right thing, because many of these troops understand
    that by defeating the enemy there, we don't have to face them here. And
    they understand that by helping a country in the Middle East become a
    democracy, we are, in fact, laying the foundation for future peace. And
    my--as the Commander in Chief, I am resolved to make sure that those who
    have died in combat's sacrifice are not in vain. And I am resolved to
    make sure that these kids who are recovering here, that have suffered
    terrible injury, that their injuries are not in vain, by completing the
    mission and laying that foundation for peace for generations to come.
    And I'm optimistic we'll achieve that objective.
        Thank you all very much.

    Note: The President spoke at 12:05 p.m. at the Brooke Army Medical
    Center. In his remarks, he referred to Col. Lark Ford, USA, deputy
    commander for nursing, Brooke Army Medical Center; and Gen. George W.
    Casey, Jr., USA, commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq.