[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 40, Number 5 (Monday, February 2, 2004)]
[Pages 147-150]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Prior to Discussions With President Aleksander Kwasniewski of 
Poland and an Exchange With Reporters

January 27, 2004

    President Bush. I want to welcome my good friend and a good friend 
of our country to the White House. I appreciate so very much you coming 
by, Mr. President.
    I've gotten to know this man well over the years. He is a leader. He 
understands that people need to lead their country towards peace and 
freedom and prosperity, and President Kwasniewski is doing just that. 
He's making a mark on the continent of Europe through his leadership. He 
stands strong.

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    In every conversation I've had with him, he has a deep love for the 
Polish people. He expresses his desire for close relations, because he 
understands close relations between our countries is in the people's 
interest.
    And Mr. President, I'm so glad you're back. I appreciate your 
friendship. I appreciate your strength. Welcome.

[At this point, President Kwasniewski spoke in Polish, and no 
translation was provided.]

    President Kwasniewski. I was talking Polish because I see Polish TV 
here.
    And now to Americans----
    President Bush. We'll answer some questions here.
    President Kwasniewski. Some questions and maybe short statement to 
you, because----
    President Bush. Absolutely, they love to be informed.
    President Kwasniewski. ----you understand Polish, or not fully?
    President Bush. Well, he speaks French, but not Polish. [Laughter]
    President Kwasniewski. French is the next time, not yet.
    I would like to say that it is a tradition; we began each year with 
this Polish-American consultation. Last year was very important, 
difficult. We are together as allies in Iraq. I'm sure that we have all 
chances to finish this mission with success, in favor of Iraqi people, 
in favor of the security in the world, in favor of all of us. And this 
visit I hope will be very good to solve some of our bilateral issues, 
which are necessary to eliminate in our relations, because the people--
especially the people in Poland and Polish Americans, they expect very 
much to make the relations between Poland and the United States as 
excellent as possible, and with such friend as George W. Bush, I'm sure 
that they are ready to do.
    President Bush. Thank you, sir. Terry [Terence Hunt, Associated 
Press].

Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction

    Q. Mr. President, a year ago you said the dictator of Iraq has got 
weapons of mass destruction. Are you still confident that weapons of 
mass destruction will be found in Iraq, given what Dr. Kay has said?
    President Bush. Let me first compliment Dr. Kay for his work. I 
appreciate his willingness to go to Iraq and I appreciate his 
willingness to gather facts. And the Iraq Survey Group will continue to 
gather facts.
    There is no doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a gathering 
threat to America and others. That's what we know. We know from years of 
intelligence, not only our own intelligence services but other 
intelligence-gathering organizations, that he had weapons. After all, he 
used them. He had deep hatred in his heart for people who love freedom. 
We know he was a dangerous man in a dangerous part of the world. We know 
that he defied the United Nations year after year after year. And given 
the events of September the 11th, we know we could not trust the good 
intentions of Saddam Hussein, because he didn't have any.
    There is no doubt in my mind the world is a better place without 
Saddam Hussein. America is more secure. The world is safer, and the 
people of Iraq are free.
    You want to call on the Polish press?
    President Kwasniewski. Yes, please.

U.S. Military Aid for Poland

    Q. Polish Television, a question for Mr. President Bush. Mr. 
President, there is a feeling in Poland that America is not doing enough 
for Polish effort in Iraq. Are you planning to extend military support 
for Poland?
    President Bush. I look forward to talking to my friend about that 
today. In my '05 budget request there is a $66 million request to help 
the Polish military, particularly with airlift capacity, C-130 aircraft. 
The Polish army is a sophisticated, fine group of soldiers. And one area 
where Poland needs some help is capacity to move those soldiers, and we 
look forward to helping the Government do that.

Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction/ Prewar Intelligence

    Q. Mr. President, do you have any questions about the prewar 
intelligence? And the Democrats are wanting an independent commission to 
look into this. Would you go along with that?

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    President Bush. First of all, I think it's very important for us to 
let the Iraq Survey Group do its work so we can find out the facts and 
compare the facts to what was thought.
    The first part of your question was?
    Q. Do you have any questions about the prewar intelligence? Were you 
ill-served by the intelligence community?
    President Bush. Well, first of all, I've got great confidence in our 
intelligence community. These are unbelievably hard-working, dedicated 
people who are doing a great job for America. And secondly, there is no 
doubt in my mind that Saddam Hussein was a grave and gathering threat to 
America and the world. There is just no doubt in my mind.
    And I say that based upon intelligence that I saw prior to the 
decision to go into Iraq, and I say that based upon what I know today. 
And the world is better off without him. And we're now in the business 
of making sure Iraq is free and democratic. And that's important as well 
for long-term stability and peace in the world. And we're making good 
progress toward that goal.
    President Kwasniewski. May I add one thing?
    President Bush. Sure, please.
    President Kwasniewski. Because it might be interesting for American 
journalists. Many months before Iraqi action, I met predecessor of Hans 
Blix in Warsaw. I invited him to my palace, and we discussed about mass 
destruction weapons, Iraq, and everything. And he told me very important 
thing, that Saddam has these weapons or is ready to produce these 
weapons, because to have such impression that he has mass destruction 
weapons is a part of his doctrine to keep own power in Iraq and to be 
strong in the region.
    So I think that it's very difficult today to judge how it was when 
he had--when he decided to continue this project of mass destruction 
weapons. But that was information of predecessor of Mr. Blix in Warsaw, 
that absolutely Iraq is ready to produce if it's necessary, to keep the 
power of--and the dictatorship of Saddam and to play such important role 
in the region.
    President Bush. Yes, Dave [David Gregory, NBC News].
    Q. Mr. President, but how do you describe and account for the 
difference between what you claimed prior to the war about what he 
possessed and what he was capable of and what the intelligence said he 
possessed and was capable of in terms of a nuclear weapon within the 
decade and the fact that David Kay says the intelligence was inaccurate 
and wrong and nothing has been found? Don't you owe the American people 
an explanation?
    President Bush. Well, I think the Iraq Survey Group must do its 
work. Again, I appreciate David Kay's contribution. I said in the run-up 
to the war against Iraq that--first of all, I hoped the international 
community would take care of him. I was hoping the United Nations would 
enforce its resolutions, one of many. And then we went to the United 
Nations, of course, and got an overwhelming resolution--1441--unanimous 
resolution, that said to Saddam, ``You must disclose and destroy your 
weapons programs,'' which obviously meant the world felt he had such 
programs. He chose defiance. It was his choice to make, and he did not 
let us in.
    I said in the run-up that Saddam was a grave and gathering danger; 
that's what I said. And I believed it then, and I know it was true now, 
and as Mr. Kay said, that Iraq was a dangerous place. And given the 
circumstances of September the 11th, given the fact that we're 
vulnerable to attack, this Nation had to act for our security.

Visa Policy

    Q. ----visas for Polish tourists coming to the United States?
    Q. Visa. Visas--do you offer anything on the visa policy for the 
Polish people?
    President Bush. Well, we're working with the President on this very 
delicate issue. And there is the opportunity for some prescreening to 
make sure that Polish citizens headed to the United States are not 
inconvenienced. We've got a study group we're going to put together to 
make sure that we come up with rational policy. But let me make sure 
everybody understands: The Congress decides the visa policy. That's what 
the Congress decides. And our study group will work with the Polish 
authorities in a way that

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makes it clear what the realities are here in the United States and 
makes it clear what the realities are on the ground in Poland.
    Listen, let me just take a step back on this very important issue. 
We value our friendship with Poland. Poland is our great friend. There 
are thousands of Polish Americans who----
    President Kwasniewski. Millions.
    President Bush. Millions, excuse me. I just don't want to overstate 
the case here. [Laughter]
    President Kwasniewski. Especially before the election--millions and 
millions. [Laughter]
    President Bush. ----that love Poland and that have got relatives in 
Poland. And we understand the need for dialog and travel. We've got visa 
rules set by the Congress that we just--that are on the books. And we 
look forward to working with the President on these issues.
    President Kwasniewski. We will work, of course, but I would like to 
deliver this idea to you and to our friends. The future of the world is 
without visa, not with visa. That should be our goal.
    President Bush. Yes.
    President Kwasniewski. And of course, how to reach this important 
goal, that is task for politicians, because the future of the world, 
with Poland, with Eastern Europe, with the world is no visa, not visa. 
That's--me, very modest citizen of Poland, I speak to you. That is the 
future--that is the future.
    President Bush. Well, it could be. Let me also say that I announced 
a very important piece of legislation--or called Congress to an 
important piece of legislation, which is to issue temporary-worker 
cards, which will help address much of the issue with the Polish people. 
And I would hope Congress would pass rational immigration policy--that 
is, not amnesty--rational immigration policy that matches willing worker 
with willing employer. And that also will help on this issue.
    President Kwasniewski. It will help very much. We appreciate it very 
much. But, please, the President, the future is no visa.

Note: The President spoke at 11:23 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to David Kay, former CIA Special 
Advisor for Strategy Regarding Iraqi Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Programs; and former President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. President 
Kwasniewski referred to Hans Blix, former executive chairman, United 
Nations Monitoring, Verification, and Inspection Commission (UNMOVIC). A 
tape was not available for verification of the content of these remarks.