[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 43 (Monday, October 27, 2003)]
[Pages 1421-1423]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Interview With Laurence Oakes of Australia's Channel 9 TV

October 14, 2003

President's Upcoming Visit to Australia

    Mr. Oakes. Mr. President, thanks for speaking to us. What's the main 
purpose of your trip to Australia? Are you hoping for greater Australian 
contribution to the stabilization and rebuilding of Iraq?
    The President. No, the main purpose is to thank the people of 
Australia and thank my friend John Howard for being strong in the face 
of terror and being understanding that we have a historic opportunity to 
bring peace and freedom to parts of the world that need peace and 
freedom. It really is the main purpose. Australia is a great country. I 
would define our relationship as a unique relationship. And I'm looking 
forward to it. I've been there. They tell me it's kind of like Texas, 
which is another reason I want to go.
    Mr. Oakes. I think that's right. But not everyone agrees--in 
Australia, agrees with you on the war. Some members of the opposition 
are talking about possibly protesting when you address the Parliament by 
wearing white armbands or turning their backs. Would that concern you?
    The President. Not at all. No, it means that democracy is alive and 
well. It's a--I don't expect everybody to agree with us, but one thing 
is for certain, the Prime Minister was strong. And the Australian 
military performed brilliantly; I mean brilliantly. And I've talked to a 
lot of our generals and commanders about how the Australians 
participated, and they were just--A-plus was the rating. And I think a 
lot of people would like to hear that from the American President, and 
I'm going to tell them. And if somebody feels like they want to express 
discontent, that's okay. That's democracy.

Iraq

    Mr. Oakes. Well, what about the suggestion from your critics that 
while you won the war, the peace is being bungled?
    The President. They're wrong. We're making great progress in Iraq. 
We've got a pretty steep hill to climb. After all, one, we're facing a 
bunch of terrorists who can't stand freedom. These thugs were in power 
for a while, and now they're not going to be in power anymore, and they 
don't like it. And they're willing to kill innocent people. Their 
terrorist activities--we'd rather fight them there than here.
    And secondly, that life is pretty darn good compared to what it was 
under Saddam Hussein. People aren't going to be tortured. They're not 
going to be raped. They're not going to mutilated. There are not going 
to be mass graves. And plus, that the infrastructure is improving. I 
talked to our Secretary of Commerce today. His exact--he's in Baghdad. 
He said, ``Look,'' he said, ``Mr. President,'' he said, ``You're not 
going to believe the world here is a lot different than some in America 
think it is. There's a burgeoning marketplace.'' He met with women 
businessowners. I mean, there's excitement there about a free society 
emerging, and it's in our interests that this society be free.

Australian Detainees in Guantanamo Bay

    Mr. Oakes. Sir, there are two Australian citizens being held in 
Guantanamo Bay.
    The President. Yes.
    Mr. Oakes. What's going to happen to them? And what do you say to 
people in Australia who think they should be either charged or released?
    The President. Well, we would be glad to work with the Government on 
the issue. And if John wants to discuss it, I'm more than happy to 
discuss it. We're working with a variety of countries that have got 
people in Guantanamo Bay. These are people picked up on the battlefield. 
We're trying to learn more about them to make sure we fully understand--
--
    Mr. Oakes. Are they being tortured?
    The President. No, of course. We don't torture people in America. 
And people who make that claim just don't know anything about our 
country.

Australia-U.S. Free Trade Agreement

    Mr. Oakes. Another issue between the two countries is the--possibly 
the free trade agreement.
    The President. Yes, sir.
    Mr. Oakes. Do you think you will get it, and will you be using this 
to push it along?

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    The President. Yes. I told John that we'd like to get a free trade 
agreement done by the end of this year, and I think it's a good 
opportunity to say that again. And he and I won't sit down and negotiate 
the fine points. That's what we've got fine staffs to do, but at our 
level we can encourage the negotiators to move along. Let's get it done. 
Let's resolve our differences. Australia is an important friend, an 
important economy, and I think trade is in our national interests.

War on Terror

    Mr. Oakes. Australians have spent this week at memorial services for 
the victims of the Bali bombing. Can you hold out any hope for them that 
this--that the war on terrorism is actually getting somewhere?
    The President. Yes, Hambali is no longer a problem. He's the guy 
that organized the Bali bombing. He won't be bombing anybody anymore. 
That's a positive step.
    First of all, I understand what it means to be in a country that 
grieves over the senseless death of innocent life. And the Australians 
suffered a mighty blow. And the--matter of fact, the other day I was in 
Kentucky, you know, politics for a guy running for Governor. And a 
mother--a fine looking couple walked up, a mom and dad, said, ``You've 
got to know, our daughter died in Bali,'' and tears in his eyes. And I 
gave him a big hug. And he said, ``Mr. President, whatever you do, don't 
stop, so it doesn't happen again.''
    The best way to deal with terror is to be on the offensive and to 
find these people and bring them to justice. That's why Australia is 
such an important partner, equal partner, in the war on terror. John 
Howard gets it. He understands. The Prime Minister knows that we've got 
to be tough and at the same time create the conditions where there's an 
alternative to terrorism, and that's freedom and peace.
    Mr. Oakes. One final question.
    The President. Sure.

Australian, British, and U.S. Leaders' Popularity

    Mr. Oakes. You're in trouble politically, if you believe the polls.
    The President. Why do you say that?
    Mr. Oakes. The polls show you dropping in popularity.
    The President. Well, actually, there's a poll that showed me going 
up yesterday. Not to be on the defensive, but go ahead. [Laughter]
    Mr. Oakes. Well, I was going to ask why you think you and Tony Blair 
seem to have lost support, but John Howard hasn't?
    The President. Well, it must be his charisma. [Laughter] I don't 
know. Actually, I'm in pretty good shape politically. I really am. I 
didn't mean to sound defensive.
    Mr. Oakes. No, sir.
    The President. I am. Politicians, by the way, who pay attention to 
the polls are doomed to be kind of chasing--trying to chase opinion. 
What you need to do is lead, set the tone. And I've taken some tough 
decisions. And I will look forward to making the case that the decisions 
I have taken will make America more secure, make the world more 
peaceful, and make this country more prosperous. And so I'm upbeat about 
it. And as to why Howard is maintaining his popularity and--he married 
well, and he's smart.
    Mr. Oakes. Sir, thank you. And I look forward to seeing you in 
Australia.
    The President. Yes, sir. Looking forward to it. Thanks.

Note: The interview was taped at 3:44 p.m. in the Library at the White 
House, and the transcript was released by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on October 18. In his remarks, the President referred to Prime 
Minister John Howard of Australia; former President Saddam Hussein of 
Iraq; Secretary of Commerce Donald L. Evans; Nurjaman Riduan Isamuddin 
(known as Hambali), Al Qaida's chief operational planner in Southeast 
Asia; and Kentucky gubernatorial candidate Ernie Fletcher. Mr. Oakes 
referred to Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom. A tape was 
not available for verification of the content of this interview.

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