[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 38, Number 47 (Monday, November 25, 2002)]
[Pages 2053-2056]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Interview With Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty

November 18, 2002

Coalition Against Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, this week NATO will be celebrating an historic 
expansion as well as focusing on transforming the Alliance to meet new 
threats, such as Iraq. You have spoken about the possibility of leading 
a coalition of the willing against Iraq. Why not speak about using NATO 
forces against Iraq, since under NATO's charter all members are supposed 
to come to the aid of any member under direct threat?
    The President. Well, first of all, I hope we can do this peacefully. 
And by doing it peacefully, that means I hope Saddam Hussein disarms. Of 
course, we've hoped that for 11 years. We've hoped that for 16 
resolutions. We now have a 17th resolution, and this time I intend to 
work with nations that love freedom and peace, make sure the resolution 
stands. And if he doesn't disarm, you're right, I'll lead a coalition of 
the willing to disarm him. And there's all kinds of ways for that 
coalition to be formed. It could be formed with NATO, if they choose. I 
have said to the U.N. Security Council, ``We'll go back and discuss the 
matter with you.'' But Mr. Saddam Hussein must understand he'll be 
disarmed one way or the other. I hope it's done peacefully.

NATO and the War on Terror

    Q. The new members of NATO are quite small. Do you see them as 
contributing something significant militarily to the Alliance?
    The President. I was hoping you'd ask, do I see them contributing 
something to the Alliance, so I'm going to answer it that way. First, 
I'll answer it militarily, because I do believe they can contribute 
something really important, and that is, they can contribute their love 
for freedom. These are countries which have lived in totalitarian 
states. They haven't been free. And now they've seen freedom and they 
love freedom, just like

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America loves freedom. And that's going to be a really important--it 
will add some vigor to the relationship in NATO that's healthy and 
wholesome.
    And I think they will. The key is to--I think they will help 
militarily--but the key is to change the military strategy of NATO. Lord 
Robertson understands this. It starts with the understanding that Russia 
is not our enemy. NATO doesn't need to be constructed to prevent the 
Warsaw Pact from invading Europe. After all, the Warsaw Pact doesn't 
exist. As a matter of fact, the Warsaw Pact is becoming NATO, slowly but 
surely. We don't need that type of mentality, and we've got to have a 
military strategy that addresses the true threats.
    The threats we face are global terrorist attacks. That's the threat. 
And the more you love freedom, the more likely it is you'll be attacked. 
And therefore, the Article 5 that you referred to for NATO becomes very 
relevant in this war against terror. The war against terror will not 
only be defeated--the terrorists will not only be defeated militarily, 
but the terrorists will be defeated as we share intelligence and as we 
cut off money and as we deny access and as we stiffen up border 
requirements in order to make sure that people can't go from one spot to 
another with plots and/or messages to attack.
    And so it's a different kind of war. And it's going to be an 
interesting meeting, because not only is the meeting going to expand, 
but the meeting is going to address how best to achieve this common 
objective. I'm absolutely convinced that the so-called military gap 
between America and all countries can be addressed with a good strategy. 
And that will be interesting for observers to watch. I think it's going 
to happen. I know that Lord Robertson, who runs NATO, is committed to 
developing a relevant strategy and one that will work.

Chechnya/War on Terror

    Q. Russian President Vladimir Putin has equated his war in Chechnya 
with the U.S. war on terrorism. Do you agree with that equation, or do 
you still feel, as was stated during your election campaign, that 
Russian forces are committing brutalities against innocent Chechen 
civilians?
    The President. I think that Russia should be able to--or hope that 
Russia should be able to solve their issue with Chechnya peacefully. 
That's not to say that Vladimir shouldn't do what it takes to protect 
his people from individual terrorist attacks. But this is a different 
kind of war that we face. This is a war where we're dealing with people 
who hide in caves and kind of shadowy corners of the world and send 
people to their suicidal deaths. It's a war that I believe can lend 
itself both to chasing those people down and, at the same time, solving 
issues in a peaceful way, with respect for the human rights of 
minorities within countries. I said that in the campaign. I also say it 
to Mr. Putin every time I see him.

NATO-Russia Partnership

    Q. Do you envision Russia ever becoming a full-fledged member of 
NATO?
    The President. I think the partnership between NATO and Russia is 
going to be a very constructive partnership. We'll see. Time will tell. 
The key thing is to make sure the relationship works the way it should, 
which really says to Russia that a expanded NATO on your border is not a 
threat to you or your future. As a matter of fact, it should enable you 
to grow peacefully.
    I'm going from Prague to St. Petersburg precisely to deliver that 
message to the Russian people, that even though NATO will have been 
expanded on your border, particularly in sensitive areas like the 
Baltics, you should not fear expansion, you should welcome expansion, 
because you've now got a neighborhood that is much more peaceful for you 
to--in which to realize your vast potential. And that's important for 
Russia to hear.
    Q. Russia now has a special counsel with NATO----
    The President. Are we getting the hook already?
    Q. Does that mean we're running out of time? Let me ask you another 
question----
    The President. It's hard to see on radio.

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Freedom and the War on Terror

    Q. Central Asia--we broadcast to Central Asia. And many experts say 
that the authoritarian regimes in that region are actually fueling 
terrorism because their people feel helpless and unable to effect 
change. Do you think there are any dangers in the U.S. allying itself 
closely with those governments that are----
    The President. I think anytime the United States allies itself with 
a government, that we never forget the basic premises of our existence, 
and that is: Freedom is important; the human condition for all are 
important; we value every life; everybody counts. And in my judgment, 
the more people relate to the United States and work with the United 
States, the more likely it is they will work to improve the human 
condition. And that's what we spend a lot of time doing. That's one of 
the great things about our country is that we embrace freedom, first and 
foremost.
    It's one of my concerns about Iraq. Listen, we've got people living 
in Iraq that are tortured and brutalized in order to keep this man in 
power. I weep for those who suffer.
    And so the great cause of the United States is freedom. I tell these 
countries--they talk about freedom--I say, ``Freedom isn't America's 
gift to the world. It's God-given. Everybody counts.'' And it is with--
that spirit of recognizing the values of freedom I think will help 
improve people, no matter where. And you're right, there's some leaders 
there that need work with, and we're prepared to work with them.
    But I will tell you, people--poverty is a tool for recruitment 
amongst these global terrorists. It's a way for them to recruit, 
perhaps. But poverty doesn't cause killers to exist. And it's an 
important distinction to make. These global terrorists are--some of them 
are rich, monetarily. They're obviously poor in spirit. They have no 
regard for human life. They claim they're religious, and they kill in 
the name of religion. And there are some breeding grounds, no question 
about it. And therefore, we hope that prosperity spreads out from 
central government to help people. But I hope people don't confuse the 
mentality of the terrorist leaders and economic plight, because these 
people are plenty comfortable. They just kill. And we're going to get 
them before they get us. And that's what the world needs to know about 
the United States.

Usama bin Laden

    Q. Usama bin Laden still seems to be alive. Are you----
    The President. Could be.
    Q. ----worried that he's plotting another major attack on the United 
States?
    The President. Whether it's him or somebody else, they're plotting 
an attack, no question about it. That's why we've got to get them. But 
this issue is bigger than one person. If--the war on terror is a group 
of fanatics. They hate America because of what we stand for. They hate 
us because we love freedom. And that's why we're on the hunt. And slowly 
but surely, we're dismantling them.
    I told the people of this country it's going to take a while. I said 
it's going to be patient--the farther we get away from September the 
11th, 2001, the more people are going to tend to forget what took place 
in this country. And it's normal reaction for people to just kind of try 
to settle back and hope that something doesn't exist. But my job is to 
remind people of the threats we face, based upon facts, and to find 
these killers. And that's exactly what we're going to do. As I tell 
people in America, there's no cave dark enough to hide from the justice 
of America and our friends.
    And my speech I'm going to give in Prague to the youngsters there, 
I'm going to remind them there is a coalition of the willing in place 
right now, chasing down terror. We've got 90 nations--90 different 
nations--all teamed up, doing everything we can to bring these people to 
justice. And we'll prevail. Make no mistake about it. We'll prevail.
    Thank you, sir.
    Q. Thank you, sir.
    The President. Is there any doubt in your mind we'll prevail?
    Q. Not anymore. [Laughter]

Note: The interview was recorded at 1:45 p.m. in the Library at the 
White House. In his remarks, the President referred to President Saddam 
Hussein of Iraq; Secretary General Lord Robertson of the North Atlantic 
Treaty Organization; President Vladimir Putin of Russia; and Usama bin

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Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist organization. A portion of this 
interview could not be verified because the tape was incomplete.