[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 46 (Monday, November 18, 2002)]
[Page 2024]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters at District of Columbia Metropolitan Police 
Department Headquarters

November 12, 2002

Department of Homeland Security Legislation

    Q. ----looking for a compromise homeland bill?
    The President. I'm looking for a good homeland bill. That's what I 
want.
    Q. Are you going to press for it today?
    The President. Pardon me?
    Q. Are you going to press people, lawmakers?
    The President. I'm going to press people right now, in a very gentle 
way, and say let's get homeland security bill done, one that enables 
this country to be able to respond to threats, one that enables the 
President to be able to put the right people at the right place at the 
right time.

Iraqi Response to the U.N. Resolution

    Q. Mr. President, the Iraqi Parliament, sir, has rejected the U.N. 
resolution.
    The President. Let's see what Saddam----
    Q. What happens if he follows through?
    The President. Then if Saddam Hussein does not comply with the--to 
the detail of the resolution, we will lead a coalition to disarm him.
    Q. Does that start----
    The President. It's over. We're through negotiations. There's no 
more time. The man must disarm. He said he would disarm. He now must 
disarm. And you know, this kind of deception and delay--all that is over 
with. The country is committed to making the world more peaceful by 
disarming Saddam Hussein. It's just as simple as that. There's a zero-
tolerance policy now. The last 11 years have been a period of time when 
this guy tried to deceive the world, and we're through with it. It's as 
simple as that.
    Q. Friday is the first test.
    The President. There's no test. This man must disarm. There must be 
a willingness in his administration to disarm.
    Q. The Iraqi Parliament has recommended the other way.
    The President. Well, the Iraqi Parliament is nothing but a rubber 
stamp for Saddam Hussein. There's no democracy. This guy is a dictator, 
so we'll have to see what he says.

DC Security Cameras

    Q. Mr. President, these cameras have become controversial in this 
city----
    The President. Well, then you can talk to the Mayor about that.

Turkey and Iraq

    Q. Thank you. Any response to reports about Turkey selling antinerve 
antidotes to Iraq?
    The President. No response right now.

Note: The exchange began at 10:33 a.m., following a tour of the 
Synchronized Operations Command Complex. In his remarks, the President 
referred to President Saddam Hussein of Iraq; and Mayor Anthony A. 
Williams of the District of Columbia. A tape was not available for 
verification of the content of this exchange.