06 November 2001
Transcript: Bush Says Coalition Partners "Must Perform"
(Nov. 6: Briefing with French President Chirac at White House) (1700)
Calling Osama bin Laden an evil man who is seeking the means to
acquire and deliver weapons of mass destruction, President Bush vowed
November 6 to keep "relentless military pressure on him" in
Afghanistan.
At Bush's side was French President Jacques Chirac, who said they had
discussed not only the military operations in Afghanistan but also
"the political actions that we must take to establish in Afghanistan
all the trappings of a modern state; and also the urgent need for
humanitarian aid, both for refugees and all the people of
Afghanistan."
Bush, too, spoke of the political and humanitarian aspects of the
campaign: "We recognize that our war against terror is more than just
military action in Afghanistan; that we have an obligation to help
feed the innocent people in Afghanistan; and that we've got to make
sure that there is a post-Taliban government that reflects the values
of both our countries."
He also thanked Chirac for France's "help on the military front,"
which Chirac said already included "2,000 men of all three forces."
Chirac said they also discussed "crises that can fuel terrorism,"
including the Middle East and "the need for the peace process to be
restored there."
Previewing his upcoming speech to the United Nations, Bush said he is
going to praise those nations that have joined the coalition against
terrorism.
"But a coalition partner must do more than just express sympathy; a
coalition partner must perform," he said.
"And that means different things for different nations. Some nations
don't want to contribute troops, and we understand that. Other nations
can contribute intelligence-sharing, and for that we're grateful. But
all nations, if they want to fight terror, must do something. It is
time for action."
Following is the White House transcript:
(begin transcript)
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
November 6, 2001
President Says Coalition Partners "Must Perform"
11:44 A.M. EST
PRESIDENT BUSH: Good morning. It's my honor to welcome our close
friend and my personal friend back to Washington, D.C. President
Chirac, thank you for being here, sir. We've had a good discussion
about our common efforts to fight terror. I thank the French people,
the French government, for their strong support, and I appreciate your
help on the military front, Mr. President.
We recognize that our war against terror is more than just military
action in Afghanistan; that we have an obligation to help feed the
innocent people in Afghanistan, and that we've got to make sure that
there is a post-Taliban government that reflects the values of both
our countries. And so we had a good discussion and it's -- I value the
advice of the President. I value his friendship. And I'm so glad he
came back to the country.
Mr. President, welcome.
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Well, thank you, Mr. President. I must say, it's
always a pleasure and a delight to be here and to be at your side. And
I must say that I admire you. I admire your calm and your
determination in the difficult circumstances that we have to face
together.
The ultimate responsibility of any political official, be he head of
state or head of government, is to ensure the safety of his people.
And that is exactly what President Bush is doing, what I am doing,
what all our colleagues are doing. And to ensure the safety of the
people, we have to use all the tools at our disposal, the domestic
tools and also the international tools. And by international tool, of
course, I refer to the eradication of the current terrorism.
In this spirit, we talked about the military operations, about French
support, about the political actions that we must take to establish in
Afghanistan all the trappings of a modern state; and also the urgent
need for humanitarian aid, both for refugees and all the people of
Afghanistan. And also, we mentioned the crises across the world,
crises that can fuel terrorism. And of course, by that I mean that we
mentioned, amongst other things, the Middle East and the need for the
peace process to be restored there.
And on all these issues, I wanted to contribute a few thoughts in the
general debate, and that is what I did. And I'd like to thank him for
welcoming me.
PRESIDENT BUSH: We'll take a couple of questions. I'll take two. The
President's agreed to take two, starting with Mr. Fournier.
Q: Sir, this morning you said that the terrorists -- al Qaeda
terrorists are seeking to obtain weapons of mass destruction. Can you
tell us how close they are to getting a nuclear bomb, or even a bomb
that would distribute deadly nuclear waste across the country?
And to President Chirac, your government says about 2,000 of your
troops will be involved in the U.S.-led effort. How many of those will
be on the ground in Afghanistan?
PRESIDENT BUSH: This morning I did say that Osama bin Laden, al Qaeda,
were seeking to develop weaponry that -- weapons of mass destruction.
And the reason I said that is because I was using his own words. He
announced that this was his intention. And I believe we need to take
him seriously. We will do everything we can to make sure he does not
acquire the means to deliver weapons of mass destruction. If he
doesn't have them, we will work hard to make sure he doesn't; if he
does, we'll make sure he doesn't deploy them. And that's why it is so
important that we continue our search for al Qaeda in Afghanistan to
hunt them down, to get them on the run, and to bring them to justice.
But this is an evil man that we're dealing with. And I wouldn't put it
past him to develop evil weapons to try to harm civilization as we
know it. And that's why our coalition is -- that's why I work hard to
keep our coalition bound together. And that's why we're going to keep
relentless military pressure on him in Afghanistan. And that's why we
must prevail. That's why we must win.
And I told my friend, the President, there's no doubt in my mind we
will win.
The question to Mr. Chirac.
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: I didn't say that France was ready to put 2,000 men
at the disposal of the military operation; on the contrary, I said
that we already had 2,000 men of all three forces involved in the
operation.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Question from the French press. No, only one question,
Mr. Fournier. This is the old two-question trick; you say you've got
one question and he has two questions.
Would you call on somebody from your press?
Q: We are -- I'll ask the question in French, a question that is
directed to both Presidents. And we are already involved in the
military phase. Have we already -- have you already started thinking
about the political phase and the possible increased involvement of
the U.N. for the future in that phase?
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Of course we have mentioned all this. And I must say
that the military aspect is necessary, yes, but there are other
aspects. And the U.S. and its allies are currently making efforts to
speed up the political process and the quest for a political
settlement in Afghanistan. And in this respect, we support Mr. Brahimi
and what he is doing. We are all also involved in increasing and
stepping up the humanitarian aid, and we mentioned that this morning.
We spoke about all these issues, because they are all closely
intertwined, as are other issues that haven't yet been mentioned in
front of you ladies and gentlemen: for instance, the financing of the
fight against terrorism, or financial measures to fight against
terrorism; and also the havens that are offered to terrorists in some
countries because of national legislation, and also the fight against
the opportunities that our democratic societies give these terrorists.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yes, I have nothing more to add to that. I'm in
agreement with what the President said.
Q: Mr. President, you said this morning that you wanted more than
sympathy or words from other countries. What nations were you
specifically talking about, and what do you want from them?
PRESIDENT BUSH: I am going to the United Nations to give a speech on
Saturday. And I am going to praise those nations who have joined our
coalition. But a coalition partner must do more than just express
sympathy; a coalition partner must perform. And our coalition partner
here has performed; we work together.
And that means different things for different nations. Some nations
don't want to contribute troops, and we understand that. Other nations
can contribute intelligence-sharing, and for that we're grateful. But
all nations, if they want to fight terror, must do something. It is
time for action. And that's going to be the message of my speech at
the United Nations.
I have no specific nation in mind, at least as I stand here now.
Everybody ought to be given the benefit of the doubt. But over time,
it's going to be important for nations to know they will be held
accountable for inactivity. You are either with us or you are against
us in the fight against terror. And that's going to be part of my
speech at the United Nations.
Last question.
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: Just one comment. I would just like to remind you,
ladies and gentlemen, that through Resolution 1373, the Security
Council of the United Nations acknowledged the legitimacy of U.S.
action, and also outlined the obligation for all countries to join the
fight against terrorism. So, of course, all nations and countries
contribute according to their capabilities. But there is no way they
can get out of this commitment. It is the legitimacy and the
legitimate reaction of the U.S. that was endorsed.
PRESIDENT BUSH: The soup is getting cold. Do you want one more
question from the French press?
PRESIDENT CHIRAC: You are the -- you're the boss.
PRESIDENT BUSH: I'm the boss? Well, let's go eat, then. (Laughter.)
END 12:01 P.M. EST
(end transcript)
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