[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 22 (Monday, June 3, 2002)]
[Pages 934-936]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Cabinet Meeting and an Exchange With Reporters

May 30, 2002

    The President. We started the Cabinet meeting today with a prayer 
from Secretary Mineta, who in his prayer reminded us that this is a 
somber day for America. It is the day in which we've removed all the 
debris from Ground Zero. On behalf of a grateful nation, I want to thank 
all those who participated in the cleanup of that deadly site and want 
our Nation to continue to offer our prayer to those families and friends 
and citizens who still hurt as a result of the attacks of September the 
11th.
    As well I talked about our trip, as did the Secretary. We had a very 
successful trip to Europe, successful bilaterals with France and Germany 
and Italy. And of course, the highlight of the trip was signing the 
treaty with Russia that really signifies to the world that the cold war 
is over, Russia is our friend, and we need to work together. And then we 
went--I've signed an agreement with NATO and Russia that basically said 
the same thing. And this is a good--this is the dawn of a new era in 
relationship with Russia that will be very positive for our country and 
for world peace. And after all, that's what we work to achieve, which is 
world peace.
    I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Yes, Fournier [Ron 
Fournier, Associated Press], and then Randy [Randall Mikkelsen, 
Reuters].

FBI Reorganization/Civil Liberties

    Q. Mr. President, the FBI is lifting restrictions on domestic 
spying, including against religious institutions and political 
organizations. Is there a risk of going too far in the battle against 
terrorism and actually losing some freedoms that are very important to 
the country?
    The President. Of course, the Attorney General will be briefing the 
Nation today about what we intend to do. And here's what we intend to 
do: We intend to honor our Constitution and respect the freedoms that

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we hold so dear; and secondly, we want to make sure that we do 
everything we can to prevent a further attack, protect America.
    The FBI needed to change. It was a organization full of fine people 
that loved America, but they--the organization didn't meet the times. 
And so I appreciate Director Mueller's reform measures. This is a man 
who came on to the FBI not many days before the September the 11th 
attack, and he's now reforming this important agency, all aimed at 
preventing a further attack. Our most important job is to protect 
America. And the initiative that the Attorney General will be outlining 
today will guarantee our Constitution, and that's important for the 
citizens to know.
    Randy, and then John [John King, Cable News Network].

Situation in South Asia

    Q. Mr. President, are you preparing to activate plans for evacuating 
American civilians and troops from Pakistan and India? And how much 
concern do you have that the standoff over Kashmir is allowing Al Qaida 
to regroup and operate in Pakistan?
    The President. Well, first of all, the Secretary is--both 
Secretaries are analyzing what it would take to protect American lives, 
if need be. Secondly, we are making it very clear to both Pakistan and 
India that war will not serve their interests. And we're a part of a 
international coalition applying pressure to both parties, particularly 
to President Musharraf. He must stop the incursions across the line of 
control--he must do so. He said he would do so. We and others are making 
it clear to him that he must live up to his word.
    Al Qaida is a--they'll find weakness, and we are doing everything we 
can to continue to shore up our efforts in--on the Pakistani-Afghan 
border. And they shouldn't think they're going to gain any advantage as 
a result of any conflict that may be--or talk of conflict between India 
and Pakistan, because we're still going to hunt them down.
    This is a long war. You know, I was just reflecting the other day, 
we've only been at this for--we've haven't even been fighting this war 
for a year yet. And we've got a lot of work to do. And there will be 
moments where the Al Qaida thinks that, you know, maybe America is not 
after them, and they'll feel safe and secure. And you know, they'll 
think they'll kind of settle into some cave somewhere. But they don't 
understand the intention of this administration, which is to patiently 
hunt these people down, and that's exactly what we're going to do.
    Q. Are you sending Secretary Rumsfeld next week to the region?
    The President. Yes, he's going there. Deputy Secretary of State 
Armitage is going this week, and then Secretary Rumsfeld is going as 
well.
    Q. This week or next, sir?
    The President. Next week.
    Secretary Rumsfeld. Next week.
    The President. Yes, early next week.
    John, last question.

Legislative Agenda/Situation in the Middle East

    Q. Sir, a two-part, if you don't mind. One, there seems to be a 
sense again in the Middle East with respect to a period of treading 
water. CIA Director Tenet is supposed to go. I'm trying to get your 
sense of whether you have seen any tangible proof from the parties that 
they are willing to take the steps necessary to move beyond the 
standoff.
    And you have it on the table today also, your domestic policy team--
I'm wondering if you come back from the trip, if you discuss today the 
sense of frustration, if you will, that Congress went home for Memorial 
Day without acting on many of the things a few months back you had asked 
them to do.
    The President. Well, let me address the second first. We have been 
pleased with how many of our initiatives have moved through the House of 
Representatives and been frustrated by the fact they haven't moved 
through the Senate.
    Having said that, I was pleased that the Senate moved the trade 
promotion authority bill and hope when they get back that they call a 
conference quickly and get this bill to my desk. It's important for 
people who are looking for work here in America.
    But there's still a lot of work to be done in the Senate. They've 
got to get this supplemental done quickly. It's important that we

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get a supplemental out and, frankly, a supplemental that doesn't bust 
the budget. And we'll be looking forward to working with the Senators to 
explain to them that the supplemental ought to focus on emergency 
measures, measures that are needed to fight the war, to button up the 
homeland. But the supplemental shouldn't be viewed as an opportunity to 
load up--to load it up with special projects.
    In terms of the Middle East, we are sending--we sent Ambassador 
Burns there yesterday; Director Tenet is going--all aimed at providing 
the steps necessary to provide the institutions that will create 
stability in a potential Palestinian state. And that's very important. 
That's very important because it begins to say that people are 
responsible. It's tangible evidence that what I said in the Rose Garden 
is what we mean, that people need to be responsible for their actions. 
Mr. Arafat needs to be responsible, and part of that responsibility is 
to reform a security force so that it will actually keep security in the 
region.
    The Secretary was telling me that there was some talk of a new 
finance minister being promoted in the Palestinian Authority, a person 
that has got international standing. That is a positive development, 
because one of the things that worries us is spending any international 
aid on an authority that might not keep good books, that the money might 
not actually go to help the Palestinian people but might end up in 
somebody's pocket. And that concerns us.
    So John, to answer your question, we are--we are making progress on 
a strategy that will put the underpinnings of a Palestinian state in 
place. And it's going to take a while; we recognize that. But we're 
going to continue to work the issue very hard.
    Q. Have you seen enough from the parties to schedule the conference 
the Secretary wants to hold or----
    The President. Well, the scheduling of a conference is a matter of 
making sure that the--that we find the right place and the right time to 
do so, and the Secretary is working on that.

Note: The President spoke at 11:17 a.m. in the Cabinet Room at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to President Pervez Musharraf of 
Pakistan; William J. Burns, Assistant Secretary of State for Near 
Eastern Affairs and former U.S. Ambassador to Jordan; and Chairman 
Yasser Arafat of the Palestinian Authority.