    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 9 (Monday, March 4, 2002)]
    [Pages 301-303]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Remarks Following a Roundtable Discussion on Welfare Reform and an
    Exchange With Reporters in Charlotte, North Carolina

    February 27, 2002

        The President. We are honored--I am honored to be here. We just had
    a great discussion with folks here in Charlotte, Mecklenburg County. I
    am very impressed by the welfare-to-work program that has been
    instituted. There's obviously a sense of corporate responsibility in
    this community that is powerful, that recognizes that the bottom line is
    one thing but taking care of their fellow humans is another. The
    county--leadership in the county is forward-thinking and aggressive as
    to providing resources to help people, help each individual succeed.
    They've got a spirit of innovation here in this county that needs to be
    heralded because of the successes.
        So I'm proud to be here. But I'm most proud of the individuals who
    have made a conscious decision to improve their lives and, therefore, in
    many cases, improve the lives of their children: Women who have overcome
    terrible odds to become successful role models, articulate spokespeople
    for themselves, their families, a system that cares about their
    successes.
        And so I want to thank you all for sharing with me your stories and
    your history. Ella, today she works at the Park Hotel. She was down and
    out. She made a decision to succeed. She received the help necessary.
    And she read us a poem today that was so moving to all of us that we
    asked her to share that, if you don't mind.

    [At this point, discussion participant Ella Currence recited her poem
    entitled ``The Struggle to Independence.'']

        Q. Sir----
        The President. A couple of quick ones.

    Republic of Georgia

        Q. Yes, if you don't mind. Do you think there's Al Qaida influence
    in Georgia?
        The President. I do. So long as there's Al Qaida influence anywhere,
    we will help the host countries rout them out and bring them to justice.
        Q. What specifically are we doing to help Georgia?
        The President. Mainly, equipment and technical advice. Obviously, in
    order for us to work closely with governments that have been invaded by
    Al Qaida cells, they're going to have to request--request help. And
    we've made it very clear that either you're with us or you're against
    us, and we've made it very clear that we hope that nations step up and
    do their jobs.
        Obviously, we've got a presence in the Philippines because there's
    an Al Qaida-affiliated group of people there. And we've had some
    successes in Yemen, where we're working. We're working around the world.
        When this war started, I told the American people that there would
    be a variety of fronts

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    on the war against terrorism, some of which would be very visible, some
    of which we wouldn't see much about. And the American people need to
    know that, one, we're maintaining our coalition and the efforts of the
    coalition, and two, any time we find terrorist organizations like Al
    Qaida, we will do everything we can to bring them to justice.
        And so, yes.

    Colombia

        Q. Mr. President, what about Colombia? What can you do there? You
    have some legal constraints as to how far you can go.
        The President. Well, we did have legal constraints. We were
    providing advice to the Colombian Government as to drug eradication, and
    we need to keep it that way. The law is very clear. If the Colombian
    Government decides to take military action against the FARC, which
    they--it looks like they may decide to do and continue to do, that is
    their business to do so. I applaud the efforts of the President, by the
    way, to try to bring order to the country. But we are restricted by law,
    and I intend to adhere to that law.

    National Debt Ceiling

        Q. Mr. President, what did you tell the congressional leaders this
    morning about the debt limit? And what ceiling are you comfortable with?
        The President. Well, we'll leave the size of the debt ceiling to the
    Treasury officials. They will make the recommendation. But I told the--
    recommended to the Members of the legislation that we not play politics
    with the debt ceiling, that we're at war, we've got troops all around
    the world, we've got men and women whose lives are at risk. And now is
    not the time to be playing politics or using the debt ceiling as an
    excuse for some individual's cause.
        We need to have a good, sane policy. And I think the Members there
    at breakfast agreed with me, that now is an inappropriate time to play
    politics with the debt ceiling. It's happened in the past. Both parties
    are guilty about playing politics with the debt ceiling. And I urge the
    Congress deal with the debt ceiling, deal with it in a professional way,
    and move it on.
        Yes, Terry [Terry Moran, ABC News].

    Gallup Poll in Arab Nations

        Q. Mr. President, the Gallup organization has run a poll in Arab
    nations showing that there is deep suspicion and resentment of the
    United States. What do you make of that? How big a problem? What can you
    do about it?
        The President. Well, Terry, I saw that, briefly looked at--I haven't
    analyzed the sampling and who was asked and all that stuff. But here's
    my attitude. If the United States shows strong leadership when it comes
    to fighting terrorist organizations, the world will follow. And if we're
    determined and resolute at routing out murderers and killers, people who
    want to destabilize legitimate governments, the world, regardless of the
    nature of their population, the religious nature of their population,
    will respect that.
        Secondly, there is no question that we must do a better job of
    telling the compassionate side of the American story. And I will give
    you one example. This kind and great Nation provides 300,000 tons of
    food a year to starving North Korean citizens. And yet, the North Korean
    citizen has no idea that we provided the food. We don't even know
    whether or not the food has gotten to the starving North Korean people.
    All we know is, we made a strong commitment, followed through on that
    commitment.
        My point, Terry, is that it is essential for us to not assume that
    the kindness of the country is known. And therefore, we've got to do a
    better job of telling the story. And I'll give you one good example of
    how we perhaps can do that. Colin Powell went on international MTV, and
    the first question he was asked, by a lady from Brazil--and I'll
    paraphrase--was basically, ``Why is the nation of America so evil?'' And
    it floored him, like it would floor most Americans to think that people
    would think of our Nation is evil, when, in fact, defending freedom is
    good. We're the largest supplier of help and food and medicine in the
    world. But Colin was able, in his classy fashion, to answer the question
    and all of a sudden was part of an education process.
        So we've got work to do. And people will realize we're peaceful, yet
    we're determined

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    and patient, and we use our strength for positive reasons.
        Last question. I know you're awaiting my speech.

    2002 Elections

        Q. Mr. President, later today you're going to a fundraiser. As we
    move deeper into an election year that's also a year of war against
    terrorism, how much support can Republicans count on from their popular
    President?
        The President. I'm interested in making sure that the Speaker of the
    House is Denny Hastert. I've made that very clear. I think my job will
    be easier if Denny Hastert is the Speaker. I'd like to see Trent Lott be
    the majority leader, and I will work to those ends.

    Note: The President spoke at 11:01 a.m. at the Chamber of Commerce. In
    his remarks, he referred to President Andres Pastrana of Colombia. He
    also referred to FARC, Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia. A
    tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.