21 August 2002
Bush Discusses Future Needs of U.S. Military With Top Advisors
(Iraq not discussed, but reporters ask him about it) (1330)
By Wendy S. Ross
Washington File White House Correspondent
Washington -- President Bush and his top advisors discussed missile
defense and the future needs of the U.S. military at an August 21
briefing by military officials at the Bush ranch in Texas.
Among those at the meeting were Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary
of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, National Security Advisor Condoleezza
Rice, White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff General Richard Myers, Director of the Missile Defense
Agency Lt. General Ronald Kadish, and Assistant Secretary of Defense
for International Security Policy J.D. Crouch.
Following the meeting, Bush told reporters that missile defense,
military contingency planning, and transformation issues were
discussed.
The discussion, he said, centered on ways to "better protect ourselves
and our allies from the true threats of the 21st Century" and to
"shape a new philosophy in the Pentagon."
Bush praised Rumsfeld for his willingness "to think differently about
how to structure" the U.S. military, and his willingness to work with
people in the Pentagon, "to get them to think differently. It's not an
easy task, but he can be a stubborn guy. But he's got a vision that is
positive for the country," Bush said.
Rumsfeld, thanked Bush for his support, and told reporters that "the
cold, hard fact is that the United States lives in a very different
security environment today in this 21st century than we did prior to
September 11. We have the task in the Department of Defense of seeing
that we're able to provide the kind of defense capabilities and
deterrents that will enable our country to contribute to peace and
stability and to protect the American people.
"And that means we have got to shift this department and see that we
have the kinds of capabilities that fit for the challenges and the
threats that exist in the 21st century. It's a big job but we've got a
good team of people and we're working hard on it."
Prior to the meeting, White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told
reporters that the meeting would be part of the policy planning
process, "particularly heading into the budget cycle which will begin
in earnest in the fall, heading into the winter months.
"And so the Department of Defense will come down here with an eye
toward the big issue of transformation, the big picture point of
view," Fleischer said.
He said the topics to be discussed included the 2004 defense budget,
the direction of missile defense programs since U.S. withdrawal from
the 1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, and Bush's desire to reshape
priorities to reflect modern-day war realities.
In a question and answer session with reporters, Bush and Rumsfeld
were asked about the type of testing taking place on missile defense.
Rumsfeld said "We're testing a layered program which involves a
terminal phase, mid-course, as well as boost phase. It is a program
that will become layered. It will start out as a testbed and then
evolve over time.
"We've had some very good successes with both short-range missiles as
well as longer range missiles, intercepting them. And I feel very good
about the program. General Ron Kadish is doing a superb job for the
country," Rumsfeld said.
Asked when he expects a missile defense system to be operable,
Rumsfeld said "We think of it as a capability that would be broad and
be able to deal with relatively limited numbers of ballistic missiles
and also medium and shorter range missiles. And the shorter range
defenses are more advanced.
"In terms of how long it would take, it's something that really is not
knowable, because you're in the research, development and testing
phase. And as that continues to succeed and to work out, we then will
put things in place and they will evolve over a period of time."
President Bush noted that Rumsfeld "and his team are briefing our
friends and allies about progress we're making. That's one of the
things I said when we withdrew from the ABM treaty, that we would
consult with our friends and allies. And we are. And I appreciate
those consultations. I think it's very important for people to see
what is possible as we make the world more secure through our research
and development."
Asked about Iraq, Bush said that topic was not discussed at the Texas
White House meeting.
"I know there's this intense speculation, a churning, a frenzy...but
the subject didn't come up," Bush said.
"But having said that, we take all threats seriously, and we will
continue to consult with our friends and allies," as well as members
of the U.S. Congress about Iraq.
"The American people know my position, and that is, that regime change
is in the interests of the world. How we achieve that is a matter of
consultation and deliberation, which I do, I'm a deliberate person,"
the President said.
"I say it in my speeches ... that I'm a patient man. And when I say
I'm a patient man, I mean I'm a patient man, and that we will look at
all options and we will consider all technologies available to us and
diplomacy and intelligence.
"But one thing is for certain, is that this administration agrees that
Saddam Hussein is a threat and he will be -- that's a part of our
thinking. And that hasn't changed.
"Nothing he has done has convinced me ... that he is the kind of
fellow that is willing to forego weapons of mass destruction, is
willing to be a peaceful neighbor, that is, will honor the people, the
Iraqi people of all stripes, will -- value human life. He hasn't
convinced me, nor has he convinced my administration."
Asked to discuss his reaction to reports of the death of terrorist Abu
Nidal, Bush said:
"Well, first of all, no terrorist can hide forever. Secondly, I found
it interesting that they said he committed suicide with four bullet
wounds to the head. And so I'm not exactly sure how he died. We just
have to wait and make sure in fact he did die.
"But the point is, is that when the world puts their mind to fighting
terror, we can rout out these terrorists. And some of them will be
able to hide longer than others and some of them will be able to
survive longer than others. But this country will continue to lead the
coalition that the Secretary of Defense talked about, to hunt them
down one by one. And that's a positive development."
(The Washington File is a product of the Office of International
Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
http://usinfo.state.gov)
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