    [Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents Volume 44, Number 23 (Monday, June 16, 2008)]
    [Pages 822-825]
    [Online from the Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]

    <R04>
    Interview With Christian Malard of France 3 TV

    June 6, 2008

    President's Legacy

        Mr. Malard. Mr. President, after 8 years at the White House, how
    does President George W. Bush judge President George W. Bush? What are
    your good points, according to you, and your negative points?
        The President. Well, you know, I think that people will say he's a
    decisive person who took action when necessary to protect his country
    and to address the problems of the world. Bad points are probably
    sometimes my rhetoric was a little--was misunderstood. I mean, I can
    remember saying, you know, ``dead or alive,'' which sent--it sent
    signals that could be easily misinterpreted.
        I think people will say that he was tough when he needed to be tough
    and compassionate when he needed to be compassionate, because our agenda
    was not only dealing with terror but freeing people is a compassionate
    act, but freeing people not only from forms of tyranny but from diseases
    like HIV/AIDS or malaria or hunger. And the United States is proudly in
    the lead on these issues.

    [[Page 823]]

    War on Terror/Global Economy

        Mr. Malard. Today, the world is struck by economic crisis.
        The President. Yes.
        Mr. Malard. Instability, terrorism still prevail in Middle East.
    Don't you feel your successor might face the risk of a major conflict,
    another September 11?
        The President. You know, it's interesting, I think that's always a
    threat. No question that there's an enemy out there that would still
    like to harm America and, I believe, other free nations. But, what has
    changed is, one, we've got the pressure on Al Qaida. The very ones who
    attacked us are now on the defense. We're dismantling them. We're
    working hard to find them. Our intelligence is better; our intelligence
    sharing is better. But no question, it's still a dangerous world when it
    comes to that, and--but there's tools now in place--that we put in
    place, that will help the next President deal with the security issue.
        And in terms of the economy, yes, look, economies go up and down,
    and right now it's a difficult period for all of us. Energy prices are
    high. Food prices are high. In our country, we've got a mortgage issue.
    But I do believe that we'll come out of this, and we'll come out of it
    stronger. And it's just that--it's what happens in free markets.

    Middle East Peace Process

        Mr. Malard. Israel-Palestinian conflict is the cancer of all evils
    in Middle East. Your predecessors tried to get a solution; you tried to
    get a solution. But it seems that the two sides don't want to make the
    necessary concessions and political sacrifices. So does that mean that
    the tragedy--I don't say ``the show''--but the tragedy goes on?
        The President. I don't--[laughter]--that's a good way of putting it.
    I don't think so. I think they'll come to--first of all, I'm the first
    President to have articulated two states, because I believe it's in the
    interest of the Palestinians to have a state of their own that is whole,
    that doesn't look like Swiss cheese. And I firmly believe it's in
    Israel's interest to have a state, a democratic state, as a neighbor.
        I know these leaders well, Prime Minister Olmert and President
    Abbas. I know they're committed to working out the differences on a
    variety of issues, such as what the borders look like, the refugee
    issue, security issues. I was confident when I went to the Middle East
    last time that there's still that desire to get something done. I feel--
    still feel good about it.
        Obviously, the politics in Israel is a little different right now.
    But nevertheless, in my visit with Prime Minister Olmert at the Oval
    Office recently, he understands the importance of reaching an agreement
    with President Abbas on what the state looks like and how to deal with
    these very difficult issues.
        Condi is going to go during the European trip--is going to go back
    to the Middle East and continue to work on it. And I'm very hopeful that
    we can get that vision defined.

    Iran

        Mr. Malard. Iranian President Ahmadi-nejad is gaining influence in
    Iraq, in Lebanon with Hizballah, no doubt. He doesn't show any sign of
    flexibility----
        The President. Yes.
        Mr. Malard. ----on nuclear--on his nuclear program. Mr. President,
    is there any space left still for discussion with him?
        The President. Well, there will be definitely space for discussion
    when he verifiably suspends his enrichment program. First of all, I
    disagree with the premise that he is succeeding in Iraq. Quite the
    contrary. Iraq is becoming a democracy, a functioning democracy. They
    understand Iranian influence is destabilizing. Obviously, there is some
    influence inside of Iraq, but--Iranian influence inside Iraq--but it's
    less than it has been and will continue to lessen, in my judgment, as
    its economy and as its political society begins to develop.
        The--therefore, in speaking with my friend President Sarkozy or any
    other European leaders, we've still got to continue to send that message
    to the Iranian leadership that you're isolated; you'll continue to get
    pressured unless you verifiably suspend your enrichment program. And the
    reason why that's important to continue the pressure on is that if they
    can enrich, they could easily transfer that knowledge to a weapons
    program, which would destabilize the Middle East.

    [[Page 824]]

        Mr. Malard. There's no military option in the air?
        The President. Yes, it's still there. Absolutely it's got to be on
    the table. But, of course, I've always said to the American people, we
    want to solve this problem diplomatically, and we're going to work to
    solve it diplomatically. But the Iranians have got to understand all
    options are on the table.

    U.S. Foreign Policy

        Mr. Malard. When you see the big push of China, India, Russia on the
    international stage today, do you think that in 10 years from now,
    America will still be the superpower of the world?
        The President. You know, I--that's an interesting question. I think
    that--I would rather define us as a very influential nation that is
    willing to work with others to achieve common objectives. You mentioned
    those three nations, and my approach has been to have strong bilateral
    relations with all three. We've got strong bilateral relations with
    China, even though we differ on issues. I've had strong bilateral
    relations with Russia, a lot of it having to do with my personal
    relationship with Vladimir Putin. We've had our differences, but
    nevertheless, we found a lot of common ground to work together on,
    including Iran. And in India, I've changed the relationship between
    India and the United States in a way that we're partners as opposed to,
    you know, being antagonistic.
        And therefore, if the United States is active diplomatically in
    maintaining good bilateral relations with these countries, I think we'll
    still be in a position to use our influence for the common good. And
    these relationships don't have to be antagonistic. They can be--I've
    worked hard to get to know these leaders individually so that we can be
    able to discuss matters, delicate matters, in open and honest ways
    without rupturing relations. And I hope it serves as a go-by for future
    Presidents, that you can have disagreements, but you don't have to have
    this kind of zero-sum attitude about life.

    2008 Presidential Elections

        Mr. Malard. Last two, short questions. I don't want to put you in
    trouble, interfering in American elections. But today, do you have the
    feeling that the barriers of--and the game is not over, far from being
    over, I know--but do you think the barriers have fallen down, to have a
    potential black citizen to become President of the United States?
        The President. You know, look, I--my attitude about that is I think
    it's a good statement about American democracy that a major political
    party would nominate Senator Obama. Now that that process has ended, the
    fundamental question is, who can be the best President? That's the
    question.
        And I'm obviously for John McCain. I think he'll be a really good
    President. And the American people will make that decision. And it's
    going to be up to each person to be able to describe how they're going
    to handle the pressures of the job, how they'll be making decisions,
    what principles they'll be standing on, because this is a job--that I'm
    sure you can imagine--where there's all kinds of pressures. And if you
    don't believe something in your soul, if you don't stand on principle
    and you're on shifting ground, you'll be very unpredictable. And the
    world doesn't need unpredictability, it needs predictability out of the
    United States.

    France-U.S. Relations

        Mr. Malard. Last point, Mr. President. You and President Sarkozy put
    on the right track the Franco-U.S. relationship. We were a bit of
    trouble between you and President Jacques Chirac. With your next
    successor, whoever it is, do you think it will go on very well between
    France and United States?
        The President. I do. Look, France and the United States have had a
    fabulous history together. And I remind my friends that it was the
    French that stood strong with the American patriots in the Revolutionary
    War. It was the French that determined the balance of power when it came
    to whether or not the United States would even be the United States of
    America, an independent republic.
        And we've had a great relationship. And of course, we've had our
    differences, but that's okay. There have been differences throughout our
    history. The fundamental question is, do we understand there are--common
    values unite us? And we do. The French love freedom and human rights and

    [[Page 825]]

    human decency, and so do Americans. And so the relationship--and plus,
    there's a lot of personal relationship, a lot of friendship between
    individuals here in our country and French citizens that make it--
    there's no question in my mind, we'll have good relations with the
    French.
        Q. Mr. President, I want to thank you very much, and I wish you the
    very best.
        The President. Well, thank you, sir. I'm looking forward to going to
    beautiful Paris.
        Q. Great to see you again.
        The President. Thank you, sir. Good to see you.

    Note: The interview was taped at 10:39 a.m. in the Map Room at the White
    House for later broadcast. In his remarks, the President referred to
    Prime Minister Ehud Olmert of Israel; President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu
    Mazen) of the Palestinian Authority; President Nicolas Sarkozy of
    France; Prime Minister Vladimir Putin of Russia, in his former capacity
    as the President of Russia; Democratic Presidential candidate Barack
    Obama; and Republican Presidential candidate John McCain. Mr. Malard
    referred to former President Jacques Chirac of France. This transcript
    was released by the Office of the Press Secretary on June 12.