10 December 2001
Transcript: Bush Says Bin Laden Videotape Shows "What a Murderer He Is"
(Speaks following Hanukkah ceremony at White House)(740)
Reporters questioned President Bush December 10 about his reaction to
the videotape the administration has obtained from a home in Jalalabad
in which terrorist leader Osama bin Laden appears to indicate that he
had advance knowledge of the September 11 terrorist attacks on the
United States.
Bush responded that it reminded him "of what a murderer he (bin Laden)
is and how right and just our cause is."
Those who see the tape, "realize that not only is he guilty of
incredible murder, he has no conscience and no soul, that he
represents the worst of civilization," the President said.
Bush has not yet announced whether he will release the tape to the
public.
When asked if he had decided to release it, he did not respond.
Bush answered reporters' questions after he and First Lady Laura Bush
lit the Hanukkah menorah at a White House ceremony.
It was the first time that this has been done at the White House and
"is a symbol that this house may be a temporary home for Laura and me,
but it's the people's house, and it belongs to people of all faiths,"
President Bush said.
"As we watch the lighting of this second candle of Hanukkah, we're
reminded of the ancient story of Israel's courage and of the power of
faith to make the darkness bright," the President said.
Following is the transcript:
(begin transcript)
THE WHITE HOUSE
Office of the Press Secretary
December 10, 2001
REMARKS BY THE PRESIDENT ON LIGHTING THE MENORAH
The White House
5:00 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Tonight, for the first time in American history, the
Hanukkah menorah will be lit at the White House residence. It's a
symbol that this house may be a temporary home for Laura and me, but
it's the people's house, and it belongs to people of all faiths.
The magnificent menorah before us was crafted over a century ago in
the city of Lvov, which was an important center of Jewish life and
culture. The Jews of Lvov fell victim to the horror of the Nazi
Holocaust, but their great menorah survived. And as God promised
Abraham, the people of Israel still live.
This has been a year of much sadness in the United States, and for our
friends in Israel. America and Israel have been through much together.
This year we have grieved together. But as we watch the lighting of
this second candle of Hanukkah, we're reminded of the ancient story of
Israel's courage and of the power of faith to make the darkness
bright. We can see the heroic spirit of the Macabees lives on in
Israel today, and we trust that a better day is coming, when this
Festival of Freedom will be celebrated in a world free from terror.
Laura and I wish all the people of Jewish faith in America and Israel
and around the world many joyous Hanukkahs in the years ahead.
All right, now we call on young Talia to help us light the candles.
Thank you so much for being here.
(The menorah is lit.)
THE PRESIDENT: It's nice to see everybody. Thank you for coming.
Q: Sir, on this occasion of peace and celebration, can you tell us how
you were struck by this bin Laden videotape?
THE PRESIDENT: It just reminded me of what a murderer he is and how
right and just our cause is.
I couldn't imagine somebody like Osama bin Laden understanding the joy
of Hanukkah, or the joy of Christmas, or celebrating peace and hope.
This man wants to destroy any semblance of civilization for his own
power and his own good. He's so evil that he's willing to send young
men to commit suicide while he hides in caves.
And while we celebrate peace and lightness, I fully understand in
order to make sure peace and lightness exists in the future, we must
bring him to justice. And we will.
But for those who see this tape, they'll realize that not only is he
guilty of incredible murder, he has no conscience and no soul, that he
represents the worst of civilization.
Q: Have you decided to release it, sir?
(end transcript)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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