[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 41, Number 49 (Monday, December 12, 2005)]
[Pages 1823-1825]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks Following a Meeting With Director-General Lee Jong-wook of the 
World Health Organization and an Exchange With Reporters

December 6, 2005

    President Bush. It's been my honor to welcome the Director of the 
World Health Organization, Dr. Lee, to the Oval Office, where we have 
just had an extensive conversation with high-ranking officials in my 
administration about the international strategy to deal with a possible 
pandemic of avian flu.
    And I want to thank you, Dr. Lee, for staying on top of this issue, 
for raising the consciousness of the world, for helping to develop an 
international response, and for working so closely with Mike Leavitt and 
Julie Gerberding and Bob Zoellick of the State Department. This is a 
remarkable collaborative effort to do our duty to help people.
    The other thing that's really interesting, I found out, is Dr. Lee 
told me we're very close to eradicating polio. And I want to 
congratulate you--from the world, by the way--and I want to congratulate 
you for your good work on that issue.
    Director-General Lee. Thank you.
    President Bush. You're a good public servant. I'm just proud to 
welcome you here to the Oval Office.
    Director-General Lee. Well, thank you very much. Clearly, we've been 
working on avian flu and pandemic flu for many years. But it really 
didn't take off until the President launched this initiative in 
September in New York. And then after that, he mentioned--he raised this 
issue with many heads of state. That really made a difference. I'm very 
honored to be here.
    And about polio eradication, it was a teamwork. I appreciated the 
effort of the United States, especially the AID and CDC. And in the 
presence of the Secretary and also the Director, Julie Gerberding, that 
it is wonderful to be able to say that we are about to eradicate polio.
    President Bush. Thank you, Dr. Lee.
    Answer a couple of questions. Nedra [Nedra Pickler, Associated 
Press].

[[Page 1824]]

War on Terror in Iraq

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Insurgents in Iraq claim that they have 
taken a U.S. citizen hostage. We also have a U.S. peace activist who is 
being held. Is there anything you can do to get them back?
    President Bush. We, of course, don't pay ransom for any hostages. 
What we will do, of course, is use our intelligence gathering to see if 
we can't help locate them. The best way to make sure that Iraq is a 
peaceful society is to continue to spread democracy. And clearly there 
are some there who want to stop the spread of democracy. There are 
terrorists there who will kill innocent people and behead people and 
kill children, terrorists who have got desires to hurt the American 
people.
    And it should be--the more violent they get, the clearer the cause 
ought to be, that we're going to achieve victory in Iraq and that we'll 
bring these people to justice. We will hunt them down, along with our 
Iraqi friends, and at the same time, spread democracy.
    Steve [Steve Holland, Reuters], yes.

Progress in Iraq

    Q. Howard Dean says the idea that the U.S. will win in Iraq is just 
plain wrong, and he's comparing the war to Vietnam. Is that a fair 
comparison, and what do you think about his comments?
    President Bush. I know we're going to win, and our troops need to 
hear, not only are they supportive but that we have got a strategy that 
will win. Oh, there's pessimists, you know, and politicians who try to 
score points. But our strategy is one that is--will lead us to victory. 
The only thing that the enemy has got going for them is the capacity to 
take innocent life and to get on our TV screens with this devastation 
that they cause. These people cannot stand free societies. They have no 
regard for the human condition. They'll kill women and children at the 
drop of a hat, all aimed at frightening the American people and trying 
to get us to withdraw. And if we were to withdraw, the likes of Zarqawi, 
who is a sworn ally of bin Laden, would have a safe haven from which to 
plot and plan.
    The lessons of September the 11th are lessons this country must 
never forget. We've got to take each threat seriously. We've got to stay 
on the offense. In the long run, a democracy will help eradicate the 
conditions that allow these people to find any kind of support.
    And so our strategy is twofold. On the one hand, we'll stay on the 
offense. We'll train Iraqi soldiers so they can take the fight to the 
enemy. And on the other hand, we'll continue to work with the Iraqi 
people to spread democracy.
    And the American people must take notice of the fact that the people 
of Iraq are showing incredible courage in the face of this violence. 
After all, there was an election last January to put a Transitional 
National Government in place; then they voted on a Constitution. And in 
a short period of time, they're going to be voting for a new Government. 
They vote by the millions, which stands in stark contrast to the society 
in which they lived under the tyrant, Saddam Hussein, who, by the way, 
is now on trial, as he should be on trial.
    I think his trial is indicative of the change that has taken place 
in the Iraqi society. In the old days, if Saddam and his cronies didn't 
like you, you didn't get a trial. You were just put to death or 
tortured. Today, there is a system, a judicial system in place that will 
give Saddam Hussein a chance to make his case in court, as well as 
giving those who have been tortured by Saddam Hussein a chance to step 
forth and provide witness to the brutality of this man.
    I--our troops need to know that the American people stand with them, 
and we have a strategy for victory. And of course, there will be debate 
and, of course, there will be some pessimists and some people playing 
politics with the issue. But by far, the vast majority of people in this 
country stand squarely with the men and women who wear the Nation's 
uniform.
    Carl [Carl Cameron, FOX News].

Detention Facilities Abroad

    Q. Thank you, Mr. President. Does your administration have any plans 
to change the policy of renditioning and/or the detention centers 
alleged to be taking place in Europe?
    President Bush. Carl, first of all, I don't talk about secret 
programs, covert programs,

[[Page 1825]]

covert activities. Part of a successful war on terror is for the United 
States of America to be able to conduct operations, all aimed to protect 
the American people, covertly.
    However, I can tell you two things: One, that we abide by the law of 
the United States; we do not torture. And two, we will try to do 
everything we can to protect us within the law. We're facing an enemy 
that would like to hit America again, and the American people expect us 
to, within our laws, do everything we can to protect them. And that's 
exactly what the United States is doing. We do not render to countries 
that torture. That has been our policy, and that policy will remain the 
same.
    Thank you all.

Note: The President spoke at 11:11 a.m. in the Oval Office at the White 
House. In his remarks, he referred to Ronald Schultz and Tom Fox, 
American citizens taken hostage in Iraq; senior Al Qaida associate Abu 
Musab Al Zarqawi; and Usama bin Laden, leader of the Al Qaida terrorist 
organization. A reporter referred to Howard Dean, chairman, Democratic 
National Committee. A tape was not available for verification of the 
content of these remarks.