    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2007, Book I)]
    [March 7, 2007]
    [Pages 258-261]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    Interview With Juan Carlos Lopez of CNN En
    Espanol
    March 7, 2007

    President's Upcoming Visit to Central and South America

        Mr. Lopez. Thank you for speaking with us. And my first question is
    about your trip. You're going to Latin America, the longest trip an
    American President has taken to the region. Why now? Why at this moment
    when Democrats control the Congress and there are issues that might be
    in their hands?
        The President. Well, thank you for asking that question. This is not
    my first trip since I've been the President. I have been in--traveling
    the neighborhood, I think, maybe three other times. But this is a long
    trip, and the reason why is, I want to remind people throughout our
    neighborhood that America cares about them. And I bring a message of
    hope, a message that says, we care about the human condition and a
    message of accomplishment.
        I don't know if you know this or not, but since I've been the
    President, our bilateral aid to Latin America has increased from 800
    million to 1.6 billion. And the reason I say that is, the American
    taxpayer has been very generous about providing aid in our neighborhood,
    and most of that aid is social justice money; in other words, it's money
    for education and health.
        And yet we don't get much credit for it. And I want the taxpayers--I
    want the

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    American people to get credit for their generosity in Central and South
    America.

    Jenna Bush

        Mr. Lopez. Your daughter Jenna is writing a book about her
    experiences in Central America. She will be focusing on a single mother
    with HIV. Has she been part of your eyes and ears in the region now that
    she's been there for quite a while?
        The President. Well, she is. First of all, I'm very proud of her.
    She is an accomplished woman. She came back--I haven't seen a lot of her
    because she's been spending a lot of time in Central America as a UNICEF
    volunteer--but she came back and talked to me about this young girl that
    she has befriended. And she's deeply concerned about alienationists in
    our world, and is going to try to raise some money to help the education
    programs there.
        To me, her book and her example is what America is all about. We've
    got compassionate people, and when we find suffering and see income
    disparity or see poverty, we'd like to help people lift themselves up.

    Trade

        Mr. Lopez. You've talked about the importance of free trade.
    Opponents of free trade in Latin America say it's one-sided and favors
    the U.S. Opponents of free trade in the U.S.----
        The President. That's right.
        Mr. Lopez. ----say it's one-sided and favors those countries. So
    who's right, and what are you trying to do with this right now?
        The President. They're both wrong. The opponents of free trade are
    wrong, in my judgment, because free trade--a good free trade agreement--
    and those agreements are signed by administrations and ratified by their
    elected assemblies--fair trade agreements are beneficial to both, and
    that's what we want.
        All you've got to do is look at the trade between the United States
    and Mexico after the free trade agreement we signed between Mexico, the
    United States, and Canada. And the amount of trade has gone up
    appreciably, significantly.
        And I truly believe that one of the most effective ways to eliminate
    poverty is through free and fair trade. But there's no question, there's
    protectionist sentiments in the neighborhood and in our own Congress.
    And I--we got the CAFTA vote by one vote in the House of
    Representatives, and I'm going to have to work hard to get more free
    trade agreements through. But the fact that it's hard won't deter me
    from doing what I think is right.
        Mr. Lopez. They say you're exporting American jobs.
        The President. Well, that's what Americans say. I look at it
    differently. I think what we're doing is, we are creating opportunities
    for business people, small-business people, to be able to sell products
    in other markets, whether it be U.S. products into Central America or
    South America and vice versa.
        I also know that trade enhances the wealth of all people. I mean, it
    is in our interests that Mexico generate wealth so that people can make
    a living. If you're a person deeply concerned about immigration--and as
    you know, this is a hot issue here in the United States--doesn't it make
    sense to encourage trade so that people can find a job at home rather
    than feel compelled to try to find work elsewhere?
        And trade is--you can track the success of a trade agreement--and I
    repeat again, the success of the trade agreement with Mexico.

    Alternative Fuel Sources/Brazil

        Mr. Lopez. Brazil, you're going. Ethanol seems to be at the top of
    the agenda. How important is this ethanol? Some analysts say that you
    will bring Brazil closer to the U.S.; you will develop ethanol plants in
    Central America and have ethanol for U.S. consumption.

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        The President. First of all, the alternative fuel issue is a huge
    issue for the United States. I mean, we're too dependent on oil. It's in
    our national security interests and our economic security interests and
    for environmental concerns to develop alternatives to gasoline. Ethanol
    is the--is what we're investing a lot in here in the United States to do
    that. Brazil has been very successful, so it gives us common ground to
    talk.
        I like the idea of helping Central America, by the way, develop an
    ethanol industry. I think it would be good for their national security
    and economic security interests. But my discussion with Brazil is more
    than just ethanol. Brazil is a very important country in South America.
    We will be talking about the Doha round of global trade. I'll be talking
    with my friend President Lula
    about international matters. Brazil is an international player, and the
    United States looks forward to working with Brazil to promote peace.

    President's Upcoming Visit to Central and South America

        Mr. Lopez. Are you--is free trade--is this trip a way to show what
    the U.S. is doing and counter what other leaders might be doing? For
    example, Hugo Chavez, who called you the devil and says many things,
    said he will be in Argentina on Friday.
        The President. The trip really is to remind people that we care. I
    do worry about the fact that some say: ``Well, the United States hasn't
    paid enough attention to us''; or, ``The United States really isn't
    anything more than worried about terrorism.'' And when, in fact, the
    record has been a strong record.
        And I will be going to promote--to look at programs that are--have
    benefited from the generosity of the American people. And so it's--I
    say, our country is a compassionate country. And there's significant
    connections between people inside America and people outside America.
    And it's in our interest that we promote those ties, and we promote--and
    I remind people about the generosity of our country.
        It's not a given, by the way, that people will continue to spend--
    that the Congress will spend money. And therefore, it's important for me
    to show that we're not only spending money but the effects of spending
    money, the positive things that are happening as we help elevate
    people's lives.

    Verdict in the Trial of I. Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby

        Mr. Lopez. Mr. President, I want to ask you about the conviction of
    Lewis ``Scooter'' Libby. Your critics are saying that his conviction
    makes the promise that you made to bring honor and dignity back to the
    White House, that this promise will go unmet.
        The President. Yes, first of all, this was a lengthy trial on a
    serious matter, and a jury of his peers convicted him. And we've got to
    respect that conviction.
        Secondly, this is an ongoing legal matter. In other words, there's
    more legal procedures to take place, and, at this time, it's
    inappropriate for me or the administration to be issuing comments about
    this serious matter.
        On a personal note, I was sad. I was sad for a man who had worked in
    my administration, and particularly sad for his family.

    Situation at Walter Reed Army Medical Center

        Mr. Lopez. As Commander in Chief, what do you say to the veterans
    who have gone through a very hard time at Walter Reed and other
    hospitals? There are commissions; there are solutions that are being
    proposed. But, what do you, as Commander in Chief, say to those veterans
    in----
        The President. I say, anything other than excellent care is
    unacceptable. And I've been to Walter Reed a lot. There's some fantastic
    doctors and nurses and healers. And yet we found that there was some

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    substandard care in part of that organization, and we're going to
    correct it.
        And I put the Commission together--a series of commissions, to make
    sure that there--that we fully understand the truth, fully elevate the
    problems, so we can solve them.
        I had Bob Dole and Donna Shalala in today. They're chairmen of this very important
    commission I put together that will analyze the care our soldiers get
    from the battlefield into the Defense Department, then into the
    Veterans, and then into community. And I want to make sure there is--
    that is a seamless transition of excellent care.
        Mr. Lopez. Muchas gracias, Senor Presidente.
        The President. Por nada.

    Note: The interview was taped at 12:06 p.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to
    President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil; I. Lewis ``Scooter''
    Libby, former Chief of Staff to the Vice President; and former Sen.
    Robert J. Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna
    E. Shalala, Cochairs, President's Commission on Care for America's
    Returning Wounded Warriors. Mr. Lopez referred to President Hugo Chavez
    Frias of Venezuela. A portion of this interview could not be verified
    because the tape was incomplete.