    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: George W. Bush (2008, Book II)]
    [July 2, 2008]
    [Pages 969-973]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    The President's News Conference
    July 2, 2008

        The President. Good morning. Next week, I'm going to travel to Japan
    for the eighth and final G-8 summit of my Presidency.
        At recent summits, G-8 countries have made pledges to help
    developing nations address challenges, from health care to education to
    corruption. Now we need to show the world that the G-8 can be
    accountable for its promises and deliver results. As I said the other
    day, we need people who not only make promises, but write checks, for
    the sake of human rights and human dignity and for the sake of peace.
        Accountability is really important when it comes to our work on the
    continent of Africa. In 2005, G-8 leaders promised to double development
    assistance to Africa by 2010. America is on track to meet our
    commitments. And in Japan, I'll urge other leaders to fulfill their
    commitments as well.
        We must also fulfill our commitments in the battle against HIV/AIDS
    and malaria. I've asked Congress to reauthorize and expand the Emergency
    Plan for AIDS Relief, doubling our funding for this vital effort. It's
    very important that Congress reauthorize this plan, but in the meantime,
    we're fulfilling our promises that we made, not only to--at the G-8, but
    more importantly, to the people of--on the continent of Africa.
        It's important that over the next 5 years that we support
    antiretroviral treatment for approximately 2.5 million people, that we
    prevent 12 million new AIDS infections, and that we care for 12 million
    people also affected by HIV/AIDS, including 5 million orphans and
    vulnerable children. Last year, the G-8 agreed to meet those
    commitments; they agreed to match. They also agreed to help us reduce
    malaria in affected countries by half. And I just--I hope that these
    countries understand the great promise and hope that comes when we help
    alleviate this suffering. And so one of my really important agenda items
    is going to rally our partners to make commitments and meet commitments.
        We'll also discuss additional steps to confront some other
    challenges, such as the need to train health care workers in G-8 partner
    countries in Africa. It's one thing to say we're going to help people
    with their--deal with disease, but a lot of these countries need workers
    that are capable of helping, of reaching out to people in need. We
    should set a goal to treat at least 75 percent of the people with
    neglected tropical diseases in the most affected countries. We've got to
    work to confront higher food prices. I'm confident we'll be talking
    about energy and food.
        On the food issue, I've announced that the United States would make
    available nearly $1 billion in new resources to bolster global food
    security. Once again, I'll be going to the G-8 and talking about the
    great compassion and concern of the American people in addressing
    problems.
        At Toyako, I'll also ask leaders of the G-8 to make other important
    strategic moves to alleviate hunger, such as increasing the shipments of
    food, fertilizers, and seeds to countries in need. It's one thing to
    talk about the problem; this is a practical way to help countries deal
    with the lack of food.
        We need to help severely affected nations grow more of their own
    food. It's one thing to provide food; it seems like--to make sense to me
    to say, we're going to help you become more agriculturally self-
    sustaining. This has been a issue in the United States Congress, by the
    way. Unfortunately, we tried to get this in the farm bill. Our Members
    of Congress decided against this plan, this way forward. But it makes
    sense for the United States, if we're

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    going to be providing food aid, to encourage people to grow their own
    food so we don't have to deal with this problem on a regular basis.
        I'm also going to make sure that the world understands the
    importance of advanced agricultural technologies, including
    biotechnology, to help nations grow food so they don't have to come to
    the world for help. We'll also be talking about export restrictions and
    tariffs and subsidies. We will work to tear down barriers to trade and
    investment around the world. It's an opportunity for those of us in the
    G-8 and the other nations coming to talk about a successful round of
    Doha. The United States is firmly committed to Doha. We're working hard
    to get this done by the end of the year, and it will be a good
    opportunity in Japan to discuss what we need to do together to open up
    market access and to reduce agricultural subsidies.
        We'll be talking about energy security and, of course, at the same
    time, the climate change issue. I'll be reminding people that we can
    have better energy security and we can be better stewards of the
    environment without sacrificing economic growth.
        And the principle is pretty simple. It's going to be hard to have
    the amount of money necessary to invest in new technologies if we don't
    have the money to spend, and therefore, we need to make sure our
    economies are vibrant.
        We're now implementing new mandatory programs that will reduce
    billions of tons of emissions. I'll remind people at the G-8 and other
    nations that we're taking effective steps. We're going to make available
    more than $40 billion in loan guarantee authority to support private
    sector incentives and innovative clean energy technologies.
        The 2009 budget requests more than $4 billion to support
    technologies that have the potential to avoid, reduce, and sequester
    greenhouse gases. In other words, we've got a strong agenda when it
    comes to providing money to encourage the advent of new technologies.
    And as well, when--we'll be meeting with leaders of the major economies
    to discuss shared strategies and practical actions for addressing
    greenhouse gas emissions. This is called the major economies process
    that we proposed and G-8 leaders endorsed.
        All this is aiming, by the way, to develop a strategy in which major
    economies are a part of the strategy. Look, we can't have an effective
    agreement unless China and India are a part of it. It's as simple as
    that. I'm going to remind our partners that's the case. And we want the
    United Nations Framework Convention to be effective. And so we've got to
    reach common ground on how to proceed.
        And we're making some progress there, including the knowledge that
    we've got to have a long-term emissions reduction goal, midterm goals
    with national plans to achieve them, and cooperation in key industrial
    sectors.
        And also, we're going to talk about the struggle against violent
    extremists. The temptation is to kind of say, well, maybe this isn't
    really a war; maybe this is just a bunch of disgruntled folks that
    occasionally come and hurt us. That, you know--that's not the way I feel
    about it. This is an ongoing, constant struggle to defend our own
    security and, at the same time, help people realize the blessings of
    liberty. I'll, of course, talk about Afghanistan and Iraq and ask the G-
    8 to continue to help.
        So this is an historic opportunity to meet, to exchange ideas, and
    to address some of the problems we all face. And I'm looking forward to
    going. And now I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions.
        Deb [Deb Riechmann, Associated Press].

    Afghanistan/U.S. Troop Levels

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. June was the deadliest month for U.S.
    troops in--since we began the war in Afghanistan. Has Afghanistan
    replaced Iraq as the central front of the war on terror? And is Al Qaida
    and the Taliban taking the upper hand?

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    And also, is it possible that we could send additional U.S. troops there
    sooner than the 2009 date that you've been talking about?
        The President. First of all, any time a troop loses their life,
    whether it be in Afghanistan, Iraq, or elsewhere, our hearts go out to
    their families. And I am so appreciative that, in a time of danger,
    Americans are willing to step up and volunteer and sacrifice.
        Secondly, it has been a tough month in Afghanistan, but it's also
    been a tough month for the Taliban. You know, one reason why there have
    been more deaths is because our troops are taking the fight to a tough
    enemy. You know, an enemy who doesn't like our presence there because
    they don't like the idea of America denying safe haven. America is
    pressing an ideology that's opposite of theirs, and so of course there's
    going to be resistance.
        I am confident that the strategy is going to work, which is to
    confront the Taliban, confront elements of Al Qaida, and, at the same
    time, encourage the growth of a free society by good economic policy,
    good education policy, and good health policy.
        We're constantly reviewing troop needs, troop levels. We're halfway
    through 2008; as I said, we're going to increase the troops by 2009. One
    thing, however, that you've got to understand is that we have doubled
    Afghan troops--coalition troops have doubled from 2 years ago. So there
    is an active presence, and there are more troops there than there were.
    But we're constantly reassessing and seeing whether or not we can change
    tactics in order to achieve our objective.
        Toby [Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters].

    U.S. Monetary Policy/Energy

        Q. What do you realistically expect to accomplish at the G-8 to deal
    with soaring oil prices and the weak dollar, which are having effects on
    the U.S. economy? Even the Chinese now are saying that the United States
    needs to stabilize the dollar.
        The President. Yes. Well, we're strong-dollar people in this
    administration, have always been for a strong dollar and believe that
    the relative strengths of our economy will reflect that. One thing we
    need to make clear when I'm with our partners is that we're not going to
    become protectionists; that we believe in free trade and open markets.
    One of the fears around the world is the United States becomes a
    protectionist nation.
        Secondly, I'll remind people it took us a while to get into the
    energy situation we're in, and it's going to take us a while to get out
    of it. But one thing is for certain here in the United States, that we
    can help alleviate shortages by drilling for oil and gas in our own
    country. Something I've been advocating ever since I've been the
    President. I've been reminding our people that we can do so in
    environmentally friendly ways. And yet the Congress, the Democratically
    controlled Congress now has refused to budge. It makes no sense for--to
    watch these gasoline prices rise when we know we can help affect the
    supply of crude oil, which should affect the supply of gasoline prices.
        And so yes, we'll be talking about energy. Ultimately, of course,
    we're going to transition away from hydrocarbons. But we're now just in
    a transitional period, and we need more oil to be able to do so. And I'm
    also going to remind people that our habits are changing. If you notice
    in these newspapers that automobile sales have slowed down dramatically
    as automobile manufacturers shift from cars that are using more gasoline
    to cars that are more efficient, more fuel efficient?
        And I'll also tell them, it's a tough period for American consumers.
    I mean, nobody likes high gasoline prices, and I fully understand why
    Americans are concerned about gasoline prices. But I want them to
    understand fully that we have got the opportunity to find more crude oil
    here at home, in environmentally friendly ways. And they ought to be
    writing their Congresspeople

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    about it. And they ought to say, ``You ought to be opening up ANWR and
    Outer Continental Shelf and increasing oil shale exploration for the
    sake of our consumers, as well as become less dependent on oil.''
        McKinnon [John McKinnon, Wall Street Journal].

    Environment/Technology/Trade

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Can you tell me what is the outlook for
    getting an agreement with the emerging economies that will limit
    emissions in a meaningful way in the midterm? What's the outlook for
    that, and how are you going to get them to come around?
        The President. Yes, well, the first thing, John, is to make sure we
    get a understanding that all of us need to agree on a long-term goal.
    And part of the reluctance has been--on some nations that are major
    economies--to participate at all, because initially, I'm confident, they
    thought they were going to get a free pass from any international
    agreement. I mean, after all, the Kyoto international agreement excluded
    major economies. And therefore, they probably think, well, maybe history
    will repeat itself.
        The idea is to say, look, we want to be effective. Effectiveness
    comes when major economies come to the table. The first step is to agree
    to a long-term goal. And I've talked to our sherpa about that, and he feels pretty good that people are now
    coming to that clear understanding that we're going to have to come to a
    long-term goal. Hopefully we can do it at this meeting. If not, we'll
    continue to press forward to get it done.
        Secondly, one of the--a lot of the developing world says, well, it's
    unfair; the developed world gets to develop, and we don't. Well, our
    attitude about that is, why don't we set up a technology fund, and
    that--make it easier for people to be able to afford the new
    technologies that nations like ours and others will bring to the
    marketplace.
        Thirdly, if you really do want to make sure technologies move around
    the world, we got to reduce these trade barriers and tariffs that
    prohibit technologies from moving like they should.
        And so I--we'll see, John. I mean, this is a tough issue. It's tough
    to get consensus. People--there's a consensus that it's a problem, but
    it's tough to get a consensus that all of us have a responsibility to do
    something about it--not just some, but all of us, so that whatever we do
    is effective.
        Bret Baier [FOX News].

    Iran

        Q. Thank you, Mr. President. There have been a spate of recent
    stories about possible military action against Iran before the end of
    the year, if not by the U.S. then by Israel. And that prompted Iranian
    officials to say, if they're attacked, they'll essentially shut down the
    Strait of Hormuz. One, how confident are you that Israel will not act
    independently as the diplomatic process moves forward? And two, what do
    you make of the mixed messages out of Iran: one of defiance and one of
    willingness to negotiate?
        The President. I have always said that all options are on the table,
    but the first option for the United States is to solve this problem
    diplomatically. I've also make it clear--made it clear that you can't
    solve a problem diplomatically unless there are other people at the
    table with you. And that is why we have been pursuing multilateral
    diplomacy when it comes to convincing the Iranians that the free world
    is sincere about, you know, insisting that they not have the
    technologies necessary to develop a nuclear weapon.
        And we're making progress along those lines. There's been the
    numerous Security Council resolutions. And in my recent trip to Europe,
    I was very encouraged to see these leaders stand up and speak out about
    the need to keep our coalition active and keep the pressure on.

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        I will talk to Martha Raddatz [ABC News].

    Israel/Iran

        Q. Let me follow up on that. Would you strongly discourage Israel
    from going after Iran militarily? And do you believe, when you leave
    office, Iran will be pursuing a nuclear weapon?
        The President. I have made it very clear to all parties that the
    first option ought to be to solve this problem diplomatically. And the
    best way to solve it diplomatically is for the United States to work
    with other nations to send a focused message, and that is, that you will
    be isolated and you will have economic hardship if you continue trying
    to enrich.
        As you might remember, I worked closely with Vladimir Putin on this issue. When I said that--when asked at
    one of these innumerable press conferences, ``Did you--do you think they
    ought to have a civilian nuclear program?'' I said, ``Of course, they
    should, but they can't be trusted to enrich.''
        And therefore, I agree with Russia that Russia--when Russia said she
    will provide enriched uranium for a civilian nuclear power program and
    will collect the enriched uranium, thereby negating the need for the
    Iranian regime to enrich at all.
        And so we will continue working diplomatically.
        Listen, thank you very much. I've enjoyed being with you. I hope
    you've enjoyed being with me. You haven't? Thank you.

    Note: The President's news conference began at 10:31 a.m. in the Rose
    Garden at the White House. In his remarks, he referred to Deputy
    National Security Adviser for International Economic Affairs Daniel M.
    Price, in his capacity as personal representative (sherpa) of the
    President in preparation for the G-8 summit; and Prime Minister Vladimir
    V. Putin of Russia, in his former capacity as President of Russia.