pd05mr01 Exchange With Reporters During a Tour of Control Concepts Corporation in...

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    I don't know if you found any common ground or not. [Laughter]
    Prime Minister Blair. I think that's enough to be going on with.
    President Bush. Jim [Jim Angle, Fox News].

Sanctions Against Iraq

    Q. Mr. President, you talked about Secretary of State Powell going 
to the Middle East looking for consensus on how to handle Saddam 
Hussein. We do know that there is a consensus that sanctions hurt the 
people of Iraq too much and perhaps Saddam Hussein not enough. Did the 
two of you discuss ways of changing the sanctions to make them tougher 
on him and a little less punishing for the people of Iraq? And if not, 
how do you hope to keep the coalition together? You already have some 
NATO Allies, even, who are questioning the value of the sanctions.
    President Bush. Well, that's the work we've got to do. First, our 
beef is not with the people of Iraq; it's with Saddam Hussein. And 
secondly, any time anybody suffers in Iraq, we're concerned about it. 
And I would, however, remind you that Saddam's got a lot of oil money, 
and it would be helpful if he would apply it to helping his people. 
Having said that, to the extent that sanctions are hurting the Iraqi 
people, we're going to analyze that.
    Colin is really going to listen. He's going to solicit opinion from 
our friends and folks in the Middle East. And prior to the formulation 
of any policy, we will have listened, and then I will, of course, 
consult with friends and allies such as the Prime Minister here, as we 
develop a policy that we hope and know will be more realistic.
    The Prime Minister said something interesting, though. A change in 
sanctions should not in any way, shape, or form, embolden Saddam 
Hussein. He has got to understand that we are going to watch him 
carefully, and if we catch him developing weapons of mass destruction, 
we'll take the appropriate action. And if we catch him threatening his 
neighbors, we will take the appropriate action. A change in the sanction 
regime that is not working should not be any kind of signal whatsoever 
to him that he should cross any line of--and test our will, because 
we're absolutely determined to make that part of the world a more 
peaceful place by keeping this guy in check.
    Q. Thank you very much.
    President Bush. See you at the gym.

[[Page 341]]

Note: The President's third news conference began at 4:45 p.m. in the 
Green Top Camp Dining Hall. In his remarks, he referred to Prime 
Minister Blair's wife, Cherie; President Vladimir Putin of Russia; and 
President Saddam Hussein of Iraq. This item was not received in time for 
publication in the appropriate issue.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 341-342]
 
Monday, March 5, 2001
 
Volume 37--Number 9
Pages 335-396
 
Week Ending Friday, March 2, 2001
 
Joint Statement With Prime Minister Tony Blair of the United Kingdom

February 23, 2001

    President George W. Bush and Prime Minister Tony Blair reaffirm the 
uniquely close relationship that exists between the United States and 
the United Kingdom: a relationship rooted in common history, common 
values and common interests around the globe. We commit ourselves to the 
shared goals of a stronger Transatlantic alliance and to helping build a 
Europe whole, free and secure.
    We affirm that NATO will remain the essential foundation of 
Transatlantic security. In this new century, NATO will continue to adapt 
itself to meet new missions and challenges by strengthening its 
capabilities; seeking to reinforce cooperation with Russia, Ukraine and 
other members of the Partnership for Peace; and continuing to admit to 
its ranks European democracies prepared to assume the responsibilities 
of membership.
    We support efforts of NATO's European Members and other European 
nations to assume greater responsibility for crisis management in Europe 
by strengthening NATO's capabilities and developing the ability to 
manage efforts where NATO as a whole chooses not to engage. In this 
regard, the United States welcomes the European Union's European 
Security and Defense Policy (ESDP), intended to make Europe a stronger, 
more capable partner in deterring and managing crises affecting the 
security of the Transatlantic community. The United Kingdom is committed 
to taking ESDP forward on the basis agreed by the EU at the recent Nice 
summit. This involves:
    - Working with other EU members to establish and provide resources 
for an ESDP that improves Europe's capabilities and enables the EU to 
act where NATO as a whole is not engaged;
    - Developing EU capabilities in a manner that is fully coordinated, 
compatible and transparent with NATO;
    - Providing for the fullest possible participation of non-EU 
European Allies in the consideration of execution of EU-led operations, 
reflecting their shared interests and security commitments as NATO 
members.
    The United States supports these efforts and welcomes the progress 
made toward our shared goals.
    We reaffirm our commitment to promoting peace and stability in the 
Balkans. We declare our intent to work together and with our partners in 
the European Union and beyond to consolidate the peace so recently won. 
Our common vision is of a region, fully embedded in Europe, where 
commerce supplants conflict, where borders are venues for cooperation 
and not reasons for conflagration, and where the rule of law prevails 
and war criminals are brought to justice. Our two countries are 
committed to NATO-led military operations in the region and agree to 
work with allies and partners to build a region where the democratic 
leaders themselves take on the responsibility for implementing the 
peace, enabling the progressive drawdown of international military 
forces and in due course of the international civilian organizations.
    We recognize the existence of a common threat stemming from the 
growing proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and 
increasingly sophisticated missiles for their delivery. We are already 
working together in this area, and agree on the need for further 
substantive bilateral consultations, as well as close consultations with 
other allies. This consultation process, which will involve contacts 
with other interested parties, will include a review of our common 
strategic assumptions so that they reflect the contemporary security 
setting, and especially the growing threat from WMD-armed adversaries in 
regions of vital interest. We need to obstruct and deter these new 
threats with a strategy that encompasses both offensive and defensive 
systems, continues nuclear arms reductions where possible, and 
strengthens WMD and missile proliferation controls and counter-
proliferation measures.

[[Page 342]]

    We reaffirm our determination to oppose the development or use of 
WMD and ballistic missiles by Saddam Hussein and the threat his regime 
poses to its neighbors, while seeking to protect the Iraqi people from 
the brutality of Saddam Hussein and his indifference to their 
humanitarian needs. We call on Iraq to comply with relevant UN Security 
Council Resolutions.
    In the wake of the verdict issued by the Scottish High Court at Camp 
Zeist on January 31, we reiterate our condolences to the families of the 
victims of Pan Am flight 103, and call on the Libyan government to 
comply with the requirements of relevant UN Security Council 
resolutions.
    The President pledges the continuing support of the United States 
for the Northern Ireland peace process. The Prime Minister welcomes that 
support.
    We are both committed to taking advantage of the new possibilities 
for democratic development and free markets in Africa in order to 
address the problems of insecurity and poverty on the continent. We 
support the idea of a new partnership with Africa to address, in a 
systematic way, conflict and disease--especially HIV/AIDS--and to 
promote economic growth and good governance. It is in all of our 
interests to create a more stable and peaceful world and to make 
available the benefits of globalization to all peoples.
    We recognize the depth of our nations' economic connection and the 
United Kingdom acknowledges the importance to European economies of 
measures designed to sustain economic growth in the United States. We 
commit to work together and with other European states to deepen 
Transatlantic economic relations and to seek solutions to trade 
disputes. To maintain support for the WTO, we recognize that it is 
important that we work for solutions to trade disputes which are in 
accordance with its rulings. We reaffirm our commitment to the 
multilateral trading system and strongly support the launch of a new 
Round of global trade negotiations this year. It is our goal to open 
markets, both regionally and globally. We agree to intensify our efforts 
to liberalize fully our bilateral civil aviation relationship. We 
reaffirm our commitment to increased cooperation in the sphere of 
Transatlantic defense trade and the removal of unnecessary governmental 
barriers and impediments to such trade.

Note: An original was not available for verification of the content of 
this joint statement. This item was not received in time for publication 
in the appropriate issue.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 342-343]
 
Monday, March 5, 2001
 
Volume 37--Number 9
Pages 335-396
 
Week Ending Friday, March 2, 2001
 
The President's Radio Address

February 24, 2001

    Good morning. This coming week I will be making the trip up 
Pennsylvania Avenue to address a joint session of Congress. We have some 
business to attend to called the budget of the United States.
    The Federal budget is a document about the size of a big city phone 
book and about as hard to read from cover to cover. The blueprint I 
submit this week contains many numbers, but there is one that probably 
counts more than any other--$5.6 trillion. That is the surplus the 
Federal Government expects to collect over the next 10 years; money left 
over after we have met our obligations to Social Security, Medicare, 
health care, education, defense, and other priorities.
    The plan I submit will fund our highest national priorities. 
Education gets the biggest percentage increase of any Department in our 
Federal Government. We won't just spend more money on schools and 
education; we will spend it responsibly. We'll give States more freedom 
to decide what works. And as we give more to our schools, we're going to 
expect more in return by requiring States and local jurisdictions to 
test every year. How else can we know whether schools are teaching and 
children are learning?
    Social Security and Medicare will get every dollar they need to meet 
their commitments. And every dollar of Social Security and Medicare tax 
revenue will be reserved for Social Security and Medicare.
    My budget blueprint will restrain spending, yet meet growing needs 
with a reasonable 4 percent growth rate, which is a little more than 
inflation. After paying the bills, my plan reduces the national debt, 
and fast. So fast, in fact, that economists worry that

[[Page 343]]

we're going to run out of debt to retire. That would be a good worry to 
have.
    Finally, along with funding our priorities and paying down debt, my 
plan returns about one out of every four dollars of the surplus to the 
American taxpayers, who created the surplus in the first place. A 
surplus in tax revenue, after all, means that taxpayers have been 
overcharged. And usually when you've been overcharged, you expect to get 
something back.
    Tax relief means real help for both American families and the 
American economy. Everybody who pays income taxes will receive a tax 
cut. Nobody will be targeted in, and nobody will be targeted out. The 
typical family will get about $1,600 in tax relief, and that's real 
money. And that's money that will help American families manage their 
own accounts, manage your own balance sheets.
    My address to Congress comes on Tuesday night at 9 o'clock eastern 
time. I hope you'll tune in and consider what I have to say. I hope 
you'll agree that my plan is good for you and for your family. But even 
more, I hope you'll agree it's good for America.
    Thank you for listening.

Note: The address was recorded at 9:30 a.m. on February 23 in the 
Cabinet Room at the White House for broadcast at 10:06 a.m. on February 
24. The transcript was made available by the Office of the Press 
Secretary on February 23 but was embargoed for release until the 
broadcast.


<DOC>
[Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents]
 [frwais.access.gpo.gov]
                         

[Page 343-344]
 
Monday, March 5, 2001
 
Volume 37--Number 9
Pages 335-396
 
Week Ending Friday, March 2, 2001
 
Remarks at the National Governors' Association Conference

February 26, 2001

    It's good to see you all again. I hope everybody had as fun a time 
last night as Laura and I did. It was--I really enjoyed it, and thanks 
for coming.
    When the history of this administration is written, it will be said 
the Nation's Governors had a faithful friend in the White House. I've 
sat where you're sitting, and I know what it's like to have a good idea 
and then to wait on the Federal Government to tell you whether you can 
try it or not.
    So let me make this pledge to you all: I'm going to make respect for 
federalism a priority in this administration. Respect for federalism 
begins with an understanding of its philosophy. The Framers of the 
Constitution did not believe in an all-knowing, all-powerful Federal 
Government. They believed that our freedom is best preserved when power 
is dispersed. That is why they limited and enumerated the Federal 
Government's powers and reserved the remaining functions of government 
to the States.
    And today I'm announcing a new federalism initiative. I will sign a 
directive creating an Interagency Working Group on Federalism. The 
Working Group will seek your opinions on the issues that Governors and 
other leaders in local and State government believe should be addressed. 
The Group will look for ways to speed up waivers and to streamline rigid 
rules and regulations. And it will be charged with drafting a new 
Executive order on federalism, which will require their departments and 
agencies to respect the rights of our States and territories.
    We look forward to a close relationship. You've got strong advocates 
in my administration, starting with four former Governors: Ashcroft, 
Thompson, Whitman, and Bush. [Laughter] We'll also have an 
Intergovernmental Affairs Office run by Ruben Barrales of California, 
who will be responsive to your needs and your requests.
    We've just lived through a decade of the most exciting, important 
things done by government have been done by Governors. In 7 years, 
you've reduced welfare rolls by more than half, improved millions of the 
lives of your fellow citizens by helping them find work. You brought new 
meaning to crime prevention programs. You pioneered education reforms, 
and many of you have shown how tax relief can reenergize State 
economies.
    In Michigan and Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York, for example, 

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