[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 42, Number 1 (Monday, January 9, 2006)]
[Pages 2-4]
[Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

<R04>
Remarks to Reporters Following a Visit With United States Troops and an 
Exchange With Reporters in San Antonio, Texas

January 1, 2006

    The President. Happy New Year to you all. Thanks. I can't think of a 
better way to start 2006 than here at this fantastic hospital, a 
hospital that's full of healers and compassionate people who care deeply 
about our men and women in uniform. It's also full of courageous young 
soldiers, marines, airmen--men and women--who are serving our country 
and making great sacrifice. I'm just overwhelmed by the great strength 
of character of not only those who have been wounded but of their loved 
ones as well. And so, thank you all for bringing great credit to our 
country.
    As you can probably see, I have injured myself, not here at the 
hospital but in combat with a cedar. I eventually won. The cedar gave me 
a little bit of a scratch. As a matter of fact, the Colonel asked if I 
needed first aid when she first saw me. I was able to avoid any major 
surgical operations here, but thanks for your compassion, Colonel.
    I've been thinking long and hard about 2006. My hopes, of course, 
are for peace around the world. I'll continue to work as hard as I can 
to lay that foundation for peace. And also my hope is that this country 
remains as prosperous as it was in 2005. We had a very strong economy, 
and we'll work to keep the economy as strong as it possibly can, so 
anybody that wants to find a job can find one.
    With that, I'll be glad to answer a couple of questions. Toby 
[Tabassum Zakaria, Reuters]--or, excuse me, Deb. You are Deb [Deb 
Riechmann, Associated Press], right?

NSA Wiretaps

    Q. Yes, sir. Mr. President, were you aware of any resistance to the 
launching of the NSA program at high levels of your administration, and 
if so, how did that influence your decision to approve it?
    The President. First of all, the NSA program is an important program 
in protecting America. We're at war, and as the Commander in Chief, I've 
got to use the resources at my disposal, within the law, to protect the 
American people. And that's what we're doing.
    The NSA program is one that listens to a few numbers, called from 
the outside of the United States in, of known Al Qaida or affiliate 
people. In other words, the enemy is calling somebody, and we want to 
know who they're calling and why. And that seems to make sense to me, as 
the Commander in Chief, if my job is to protect the American people.
    This program has been reviewed, constantly reviewed, by people 
throughout my administration. And it still is reviewed. It has got--not 
only has it been reviewed by Justice Department officials; it's been 
reviewed by Members of the United States Congress. It's a vital, 
necessary program.
    Now, some say, ``Well, maybe this isn't a war. Maybe this is just a 
law enforcement operation.'' I strongly disagree. We're at war with an 
enemy that wants to hurt us again, and the American people expect the 
Commander in Chief to protect them, and that's exactly what I intend to 
do.

[[Page 3]]

    Toby.

U.S. Troop Levels in Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, as we start the new year, what is your outlook for 
U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq in 2006?
    The President. The conditions on the ground will dictate our force 
level. As the Iraqis are able to take more of the fight to the enemy, 
our commanders on the ground will be able to make a different assessment 
about the troop strength. And I'm going to continue to rely upon those 
commanders, such as General Casey, who is doing a fabulous job and whose 
judgment I trust, and that will determine--his recommendations will 
determine the number of troops we have on the ground in Iraq.

NSA Wiretaps

    Q. In 2004, when you were doing an event about the PATRIOT Act, in 
your remarks you had said that any wiretapping required a court order 
and that nothing had changed. Given that we now know you had prior 
approval for this NSA program, were you in any way misleading?
    The President. I was talking about roving wiretaps, I believe, 
involved in the PATRIOT Act. This is different from the NSA program. The 
NSA program is a necessary program. I was elected to protect the 
American people from harm. And on September the 11th, 2001, our Nation 
was attacked. And after that day, I vowed to use all the resources at my 
disposal, within the law, to protect the American people, which is what 
I have been doing and will continue to do. And the fact that somebody 
leaked this program causes great harm to the United States.
    There's an enemy out there. They read newspapers. They listen to 
what you write. They listen to what you put on the air, and they react. 
And it seems logical to me that if we know there's a phone number 
associated with Al Qaida and/or an Al Qaida affiliate and they're making 
phone calls, it makes sense to find out why. They attacked us before, 
they will attack us again if they can. And we're going to do everything 
we can to stop them.
    Yes, Ed [Ed Chen, Los Angeles Times].
    Q. Mr. President, with this program, though, what can you say to 
those members of the public that are worried about violations of their 
privacy?
    The President. Ed, I can say that if somebody from Al Qaida is 
calling you, we'd like to know why. In the meantime, this program is 
conscious of people's civil liberties, as am I. This is a limited 
program designed to prevent attacks on the United States of America. And 
I repeat, limited. And it's limited to calls from outside the United 
States to calls within the United States. But they are of known--numbers 
of known Al Qaida members or affiliates. I think most Americans 
understand the need to find out what the enemy is thinking. And that's 
what we're doing.
    We're at war with a bunch of coldblooded killers who will kill on a 
moment's notice. And I have a responsibility, obviously, to act within 
the law, which I am doing. It's a program that's been reviewed 
constantly by Justice Department officials, a program to which the 
Congress has been briefed, and a program that is, in my judgment, 
necessary to win this war and to protect the American people.
    Last question. Mike [Mike Allen, Time].

U.S. Troops Wounded in Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, in August you said that Katrina could--the effects 
of it could test the strongest faith. I'm sure of some of the things 
that you saw today, that's the case as well. What do you tell a young 
soldier or his young wife about how a loving God could permit or cause 
some of the things you saw today?
    The President. First of all, Mike, I'm conscious not to be trying to 
substitute myself for God. I am, on the other hand, inspired by the mom 
who told me upstairs that she prays every day and believes in the 
miracle of healing, that I think we see God's work here every day. I 
think when you find nurses and doctors who work around the clock, who 
come in at a moment's notice to save a life, I happen to believe there's 
a lot of divine inspiration to that kind of dedication and work. The 
parents I saw or the wives I saw, many of them were in prayer on a 
regular basis for their loved one.
    And, you know, war is terrible. There's horrible consequences to 
war--that's what

[[Page 4]]

you see in this building. On the other hand, we also see people who say, 
``I'd like to go back in, Mr. President.'' What we're doing is the right 
thing, because many of these troops understand that by defeating the 
enemy there, we don't have to face them here. And they understand that 
by helping a country in the Middle East become a democracy, we are, in 
fact, laying the foundation for future peace. And my--as the Commander 
in Chief, I am resolved to make sure that those who have died in 
combats' sacrifice are not in vain. And I am resolved to make sure that 
these kids who are recovering here, that have suffered terrible injury, 
that their injuries are not in vain by completing the mission and laying 
that foundation for peace for generations to come. And I'm optimistic 
we'll achieve that objective.
    Thank you all very much.

Note: The President spoke at 12:05 p.m. at the Brooke Army Medical 
Center. In his remarks, he referred to Gen. George W. Casey, Jr., USA, 
commanding general, Multi-National Force--Iraq.