[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 39, Number 47 (Monday, November 24, 2003)]
[Pages 1666-1667]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Exchange With Reporters at Sedgefield Community College in Sedgefield, 
United Kingdom

November 21, 2003

Terrorist Attacks in Turkey

    President Bush. It was a sad day yesterday, but it's a day that 
reminds us all that we've got a job to do; that is to defeat terror.
    Q. What did you tell Erdogan, sir?
    President Bush. What?
    Q. What did you tell the Turkish leader?
    President Bush. I told him our prayers are with his people. I told 
him that we will work with him to defeat terror and that the terrorists 
have decided to use Turkey as a front.
    Q. [Inaudible]--specific aid, like sending FBI agents or 
investigators?
    President Bush. You'll see as time goes on. Both countries want to 
help. Obviously, we need to share intelligence. The best way to defeat 
Al Qaida-type killers is to share intelligence and then work with local 
authorities to hunt these killers down.
    Great Britain has got a fantastic intelligence service, and we've 
got a good one as well. And we want to work with countries like Turkey 
to anticipate and to find killers.

War on Terror

    Q. Is Turkey a new front in this war on terror?
    President Bush. It sure is, two major explosions. And Iraq is a 
front. Turkey is a front. Anywhere where the terrorists think they can 
strike is a front.
    Q. [Inaudible]--Turkish officials wanted to go and strike Al Qaida 
in perhaps another country or another site?
    President Bush. We'll work with any country willing to fight off 
terror, just like Great Britain. This country is fortunate to have a 
Prime Minister who is clear-sighted

[[Page 1667]]

about the threats of the 21st century, and America is lucky to have a 
friend as strong as Tony Blair.

The Press

    Q. Do you like having all these press around you?
    President Bush. Do I like having all the press around me? Let me see 
here. [Laughter] Now, who has the final--let me ask, who has the final 
word, I wonder, me or the press? I love the press around me. Just take a 
look at this lot. Take, for example, Scott [Scott Lindlaw, Associated 
Press]. He thinks he's a fine runner--until he came out to the ranch--
never mind. [Laughter]
    Prime Minister Blair. I'll tell you the truth a bit later, okay? 
[Laughter]
    President Bush. Yes, we like the press. A vibrant society is a 
society with a free press.
    Thank you all.

Note: The exchange began at 2:22 p.m. at the All-Weather Pitch. During 
the exchange, the President referred to Prime Minister Recep Tayyip 
Erdogan of Turkey. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of this exchange.